ALBANY, NY— The Russell Sage Gators scored the final eight points of the game to complete a comeback victory over the Houghton Highlanders, 53-45.
 
With the game knotted at 45-45, the Gators sank layups on back-to-back trips down the court, added a free throw, and with only 34 seconds remaining Sammy Pasinella drained her only basket of the game, a deep three-pointer, with only one second remaining on the shot clock to seal the win for Sage.
 
Houghton opened up a slim two point lead early, as Carlee Miller hit a three near the end of the first quarter to put Houghton up, 14-12.
 
The Highlanders widened their advantage to as many as eight points when Alexis Klohr hit a jumper a little less than four minutes into the quarter, but the Gators battled back, eventually tying the score with less than two minutes to go before the half.
 
Moments later Abby Guiher sank a pair of free throws to send Houghton to the locker room up by two, 24-22.
 
The third quarter saw more seesaw action on the scoreboard, as the two teams traded leads multiple times.  Eventually, Sage finished the quarter with a free throw from Lauren Sanderson to give the Gators a two-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Again the teams traded leads throughout the opening minutes.  As the clock began to dwindle, twice the Gators grabbed a two point lead, and twice Klohr answered to tie the score. 
 
But with 2:43 remaining Kyra Oeffler hit a layup that spurred the Gators eight-point run to close the game.  
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 45 | Russell Sage – 53
Records: Houghton: 9-13 (3-10 Empire 8) | Russell Sage: 10-10 (6-5 Empire 8)
Venue: Kahl Gymnasium, Sage Colleges| Attendance: 94 

NOTABLE STATS
>> Miller went 7-for-9 from the floor for the Highlanders, tying her career-best with 16 points.  She has reached double-digits in five of the team's last six games.
 
>> Klohr finished with 12 points and three steals, while Amanda Jackson sank two three-pointers and finished with eight total points.  She has now made 62 three-pointers this season, 60 this season, holding steady in third place on the single-season leader board.  She trails only Kristen Moose (73) and Aimee Bence (65).
 
>> As a team, the Highlanders hit four three-pointers, moving them into first place on the single-season leader board with 175.  They had tied the previous record of 171, set by the 2011-12 team, in their last game against Keuka College.
 
>> Oeffler and Syrita Faraj scored 16 points apiece for the Gators, while the former pulled down 11 rebounds and the latter eight.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Oneonta tomorrow to challenge the Hartwick Hawks at 2:00 p.m.  The Highlanders lost to the Hawks on January 14 this year, 43-75.