LANCASTER, Pa. – Junior
Carmen Escano scored eight of her game-high 18 points in the overtime period to help the Centenary University women's basketball team secure a 69-61 win over Lancaster Bible College on Thursday evening.
Centenary, who was playing an overtime game for the first time since 2018-19 season, improved to 2-0 on the year with the win.
Centenary quickly opened up a 6-2 lead in the first quarter as senior
Taylor Bossert got off to a quick start. Lancaster Bible pulled to within two, 8-6 on a lay-up from
Jade Eshelman at 6:01.
A 9-2 run by the visitors pushed the Centenary lead to 17-8 with 1:23 showing on the clock. Senior
Jessica McKenzie had four points in that stretch.
Lancaster Bible scored the final five points of the quarter but Centenary took a 17-13 lead after 10 minutes of action.
The Chargers came out firing in the second quarter and quickly took a 20-19 lead with 8:40 to go until the halftime break.
Centenary closed the second quarter on a 12-2 run and took a 31-22 lead at the break. McKenzie knocked down four points in that stretch while freshman
McKayla Mooney got the run going with a big three-pointer.
The two sides traded baskets early in the third quarter as a McKenzie lay-up gave Centenary a 35-27 lead with 7:40 remaining in the period.
Centenary took a 42-34 lead with 10 minutes to play.
A pair of free throws from Bossert gave the Cyclones a 46-36 edge with 9:11 to go in regulation.
The two teams continued to trade points as a Bossert lay-up at 6:27 allowed Centenary to take a 51-41 lead.
A three-point play from
Lizzy Tilton at 5:22 jump started a 13-3 run by Lancaster Bible. That scoring spurt allowed the home team to tie the game at 54-54 with 17.6 seconds to play. Tilton had five points during that stretch for the Chargers.
Centenary had one last chance but the lay-up wouldn't go down and the two teams headed to overtime.
In overtime senior
Victoria Jacobs hit a pair of quick buckets as Centenary jumped out to a 58-54 lead with 3:38 showing on the clock.
Centenary pushed its lead to 62-57 on a Escano lay-up at 1:31.
The Cyclones made seven shots from the foul line in the final minute to secure the 69-61 overtime win.
Centenary shot 37.3% from the field in the game and made 16-of-29 chances from the foul line. Lancaster Bible shot 34.9% from the field and made 11-of-17 chances from the charity stripe. Centenary held a 47-43 edge in the rebounding battle.
Escano posted her second straight double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Cyclones. McKenzie added 18 points and seven rebounds while Bossert contributed 14 points. Jacobs had seven points, including the two key buckets in OT.
Tilton led Lancaster Bible with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Centenary is back in action on Saturday, Nov. 13 when it hosts Ramapo at 1 p.m.
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