OSWEGO, NY – Karina Crouse sank the game-winning layup with only 1.4 seconds remaining on the clock to lift the Houghton Highlanders past the host SUNY Oswego Lakers in a re-scheduled non-conference matchup on Tuesday night.
 
After a slow start, the Highlanders exploded in the third quarter, taking a six-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
Houghton quickly built that lead to 10 points after a pair of Tabitha DeVries baskets, but the Lakers slowly began to claw back into contention, eventually tying the game, 68-68, with three minutes to play.
 
With the Highlanders clinging to a two-point lead in the waning seconds, the Lakers stole the ball near half court, and with only four seconds left, Zhane Holmes drained a three-pointer from the wing to give Oswego a one-point lead.
 
Houghton immediately called timeout and advanced the ball to half-court.
 
Olivia Simser inbounded the ball to Tabitha DeVries, who found Crouse cutting around a backdoor pick into the lane for the game-winning, uncontested layup.


 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 75 | Oswego State – 74 
Records: Houghton: 17-5 (8-5 Empire 8) |Oswego State: 9-12 (7-7 SUNYAC)
Venue: Laker Hall, Max Ziel Gym at SUNY Oswego | Attendance: 105

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton turned the ball over only eight times, while Oswego gave the ball away 17 times.  The Lakers did, however, outshoot the Highlanders, 48%-to-38%.
 
>> Tabitha DeVries led the Highlanders with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.  She has reached double-digit points in 16 games this season.
 
>> Crouse finished with a season-high 13 points, while Anna Dening hit 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc for nine points.
 
>> Holmes led the Lakers with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
>> Crysta LaCrosse picked up seven points, three rebounds and one assist.  Already the Houghton career-leader in assists (415).  She now has 1,136 career points and 555 career rebounds. 
 
LaCrosse, who also ranks eighth all-time in steals, is only 15 points and 19 rebounds away from becoming the only player in Houghton women's basketball history to currently rank in the top-10 in points, assists, rebounds and steals.
 
Her 415 career assists are also fourth-best in Empire 8 history.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center this Friday, when they will host the Hartwick Hawks at 5:30 p.m.