HOUGHTON, NY – Kayla Camacho scored 11 of her game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to break open a dead heat, leading the Houghton Highlanders past the Russell Sage Gators on Friday night, 69-60.
 
After playing to a 28-28 draw at the half, the Gators held a slim, 48-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Emma Cole kicked things off in the final ten minutes with a layup, followed quickly by baskets from Camacho and Carlee Miller to put Houghton up by five.
 
With 3:29 to play the Gators sank a pair of free throws to pull within four, but Houghton quickly answered with a 5-0 run that stretched their lead to nine points.
 
While Sage would pull back to within six, Camacho remained clutch from the line down the stretch, draining five-of-six from the line in the final minute of play, icing the win for the Highlanders.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 69 | Russell Sage – 60
Records: Houghton: 15-7 (8-7 Empire 8) | Russell Sage: 14-8 (10-5 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 105

NOTABLE STATS
>> Camacho's 29 points are a new career-high, and the most points any Highlander has scored in a single game this season.  It is also the most points scored by a Highlander women's player since February 11, 2015, when Maisie Pipher scored 29 points against Hilbert College.
 
Camacho also surpassed 20 points in a game for the first time in her career.  She finished 10-for-19 from the floor, 4-for-9 from three-point range, and 5-for-6 from the line.  She also added seven rebounds and three assists. 
 
>> The Highlanders limited a Sage team that averages 40.5% from the field to just 27.7%, while the Highlanders shot 45.6% from the floor.
 
>> Emma Cole picked up 17 points and seven rebounds, while Crysta Lacrosse added eight points and five assists.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Tonight was a hug win against a very talented Sage team.  I thought we put together two of our best practices of the year after a very tough loss on Tuesday night.  I'm glad to see the hard work pay off.
 
"I've said it before and I'll say it again… this group refuses to quit.
 
"We are on short rest against an athletic Hartwick team.  We need to make sure we come just as motivated to prove something tomorrow as we did tonight." – Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. when they will host the Hartwick Hawks.  Houghton defeated the Hawks earlier this season, 63-59.  Houghton needs one final win to clinch their first post-season appearance since 2017-18.