ELMIRA, N.Y.— Taylor Jung sank a pair of free throws with three seconds left in overtime to lift the Elmira Soaring Eagles past the Houghton Highlanders on Friday night, 59-58.
 
Elmira took a commanding lead in the first half, leading by as many as 14 midway through the second quarter.  Houghton battled back, and Amanda Jackson nailed a three pointer in the closing seconds of the half to trim the Soaring Eagles lead to six as the teams went into the break.
 
The Highlanders owned the third quarter, outscoring Elmira, 21-8, as another Jackson three closed out the quarter, putting Houghton up by seven as the teams went into the final 10 minutes.
 
By the midway mark of the final quarter the Soaring Eagles had clawed back to within one point before a pair of Carlee Miller baskets gave the Highlanders some cushion. 
 
Elmira, however, refused to go down.  With two minutes remaining Taylor Albrecht sank a jumper to pull the Soaring Eagles within two, and moments later Alyssa Waters picked the Highlanders pocket and tied the game, 55-55, with a layup. 
 
Both teams would have opportunities in the waning seconds but the game would remain knotted at the end of regulation.
 
Albrecht would score in the opening seconds of overtime to give Elmira the lead, but Alexis Klohr hit a pair of free throws to even the game, and moments later Miller hit the front end of a pair of free throws to put Houghton up by one with 1:30 to play. 
 
Neither team would crack the scoreboard again until, with three seconds remaining, Jung drove the lane and drew a foul, sending her to the line for the tying and winning shots.
 
Houghton would immediately call timeout and advance the ball, but the Highlanders could only heave an errant desperation shot to close out the game.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 58 | Elmira – 59 (OT)
Records: Houghton: 7-10 (1-7 Empire 8) | Elmira: 7-9 (2-6 Empire 8)
Venue: Speidel Gymnasium, Elmira College | Attendance: 45
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton won the battle of the turnovers, 28-20, and picked up 16 steals.  The Highlanders were also far more efficient at converting turnovers into points, outpacing the Soaring Eagles in that category, 30-10.
 
>> While Elmira outshot the Highlanders overall (37%-to-31%), Houghton outpaced the Soaring Eagles in both three-pointers (8-to-0) and free throw percentage (67%-to-45%).  The major difference for Elmira, though, proved to be rebounding, in which they held a significant, 59-34, advantage, and held a 10-2 difference in second-chance points.
 
>> Miller posted a career-high 16 points, knocking down 5-of-11 shots from the floor and 5-of-7 from the line.  Jackson finished with 13 points and five steals.
 
>> Alexis Klohr picked up her first career double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.  She also nabbed six steals and dished out four assists.
 
>> Albrecht, Waters and Desiree Roy combined to score 42 of the Soaring Eagles' 59 points, notching 15, 13 and 14 points apiece, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon for a rematch with Alfred University.  Houghton lost to the Saxons in Alfred on Tuesday, 43-61.