ALFRED, NY— Grace Rittenhouse pulled off the unbelievable, sinking a layup as time expired to lift the Alfred University Saxons past the Houghton Highlanders in a nail-biter, 60-58.
 
After a strong second quarter, Alfred took a seven-point lead into the break, but the Highlanders stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Saxons, 22-10, to regain the lead, 49-44.
 
The Saxons battled back, and with only 20 seconds remaining on the clock, the score stood knotted, 55-55.  Houghton's Tabitha DeVries missed a layup, but Kayla Camacho grabbed the rebound and found Anna Dening, who drained a three-pointer to put the Highlanders up, 58-55.
 
On the ensuing possession, Alfred's Jaidyn Chest drove the lane and the Houghton defense took the bait, collapsing to the ball and leaving Jayda Felker wide open in the corner.  Chest hooked a pass to Felker, who drained the tying three-pointer.
 
With 14 second left, Houghton had one final shot at the win.  But the Highlanders missed a layup and the ball bounced out of bounds with one second left.
 
Alfred called timeout and advanced the ball past midcourt.
 
Rittenhouse started on the low block, came around a double-screen at the foul line and dove toward the basket.  Samantha Fischer's pass hit her in stride and Rittenhouse sank the lay-in, sinking the Highlanders.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 58 | Alfred – 60
Records: Houghton: 13-5 (4-5 Empire 8) | Alfred: 11-7 (5-4 Empire 8)
Venue: Terry S. Galanis Family Arena, Alfred University| Attendance: 173

NOTABLE STATS
>> Camacho finished with a team-best 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, completing her fourth double-double of the season and eighth time this season with 20-plus points.  She now has 991 career points.  Camacho's four three-pointers this evening give her 145 in her career, moving her sixth place all-time, only three behind fifth-place holder, Wendy Ivey ('00).  Her 55 threes this season tie her with Elle Reed ('16) and Alicia Mucher ('02) for seventh-most in a season, only one-away from fifth place and two-away from fourth.
 
>> DeVries finished 8-for-16 on the night, tallying 17 points and eight rebounds. She has reached double-digit points nine times this season.
 
>> Rittenhouse scored a game-high 22 points, finishing 8-of-14 from the field, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, and 3-for-4 from the line.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center this Friday, when they will host the Hartwick Hawks at 5:30 p.m.