The Lady Raiders (16-10, 9-5 AMC) pulled off a thrilling, double overtime upset of #10 Daemen College (22-6, 12-3 AMC) in an American Mideast Conference Game played at Lumsden Gymnasium on the Daemen College Campus. The final score was 83 – 80 in a game that saw the score tied 10 times and had 14 lead changes. This was only Daemen's 10th home loss since 2002-2003.
The game was close early with the score tied at 14 before Roberts opened at 20 – 14 lead on three consecutive baskets from guard
Tiffany Wilson (SR, Rochester, NY). From that point, the Wildcats caught fire from the outside, going on a 22 – 6. The run was highlighted by three pointers from senior Bridgette Burke (20 points, 12 rebounds) and sophomore Tara Bailey (6 points), and after a three pointer from the baseline from sophomore Lia Zahn (3 points), Daemen went into the locker room with a 36 – 26 advantage.
Daemen never trailed in the second half. Senior Alana Laguerre (15 points) scored three straight baskets to open the second half as the Wildcats pushed the lead to 14. Roberts would come within 7 points five times over the next ten minutes, but could get no closer. With Daemen leading 60 – 51 with five minutes remaining, Roberts went on a 14 – 5 run to tie the game at 65 on a basket from forward
Brittany McMillon (SR, Lyons, NY) with 26 seconds remaining. McMillon and guard
Morgan Skiff (JR, Rochester, NY) each scored 7 points in the run Daemen senior Sarah Soroka (20 points, 12 rebounds) missed a shot late and the game would go to overtime.
In the first overtime, Skiff opened the scoring, but Daemen scored 5 straight points to lead 70 – 67. The Raiders would get 6 straight points from McMillon to lead by 3 with two minutes remaining. A free throw from forward
Sarah Child (JR, Albany, NY) put the Raiders up 74 – 72, but Burke was able to tie the game at 74 – 74 with five seconds remaining. A long three pointer from Wilson fell short at the buzzer, and the game went into a second overtime period.
The teams traded the lead again early, and Daemen led 78 – 77 with three minutes remaining. Then the Lady Raiders went on a game deciding 6 – 0 run. A jumper from forward
Lindsay Kendall (SO, Rochester, NY) and back to back baskets from Child off passes from McMillon sealed the deal. Daemen would close to the final of 83 – 80, but each team tightened the defense and neither would score over the last 1:30 of the game. A three pointer from senior Mary Beth Nugent missed at the buzzer and the Lady Raiders had the victory.
The Raiders were led by McMillon, who finished with a career high 27 points, and added 14 rebounds, 3 assists, a big blocked shot and 2 steals. Three other Raiders joined her in double figures. Child added 19 points and 8 rebounds. Kendall added 8 points and 4 rebounds. Wilson and Skiff chipped in 10 points each off the bench, as the Raider reserves outscored Daemen's bench 25 – 7. Wilson added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Forward
Bianca Jones (JR, Long Island City, NY) played solid post defense and came up with a game high 3 steals.
“What a tremendous game,” said Raider coach
Bob Segave. “Daemen is one of the toughest places in the country to come into and win, and they have been one of the top teams in the country all season long. They have four seniors who have been very successful and Sarah (Soroka) will probably be the NAIA Player of the Year, but our kids just kept believing. Even when Daemen was up 14 points, they stayed in the moment and kept battling. They have such big hearts and I am so proud to coach them. Brittany (McMillon) had an All – American performance again tonight, and Sarah (Child) really came to work and did a wonderful job on both ends of the court. Tiff (Wilson) and Morgan (Skiff) were huge on the offensive and defensive end, but this was a win that our entire team shares in.”
The Raiders won't have too much time to celebrate as they travel to play AMC rival Houghton College in a makeup game on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 8PM. The game will be broadcast by Houghton with coverage beginning immediately after the men's game. Go to
http://www.houghton.edu/sports/webcast/default.htm to hear the broadcast.
