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Erin Lawrenson

YOUNGSTOWN, OH ­ Sophomore Erin Lawrenson (Elkland, PA/Elkland Area) hit a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in regulation and the Bulls scored the last 11 points in overtime to pull out an 86-80 win at Youngstown State in front of 1,374 fans at the Beeghly Center. The Bulls used a balanced scoring attack once again with four players finishing in double figures, led by senior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Nelson, New Zealand/Hawaii) with a game-high 22 points. The win was Buffalo's fourth straight over the Penguins and improved the Bulls' record to 5-1 on the season.

The Bulls went on a 12-2 run over the final seven minutes of the first half, including six straight points by junior Kim Kilpela (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) off the bench. The last Youngstown State (2-6) bucket of the half came at the 4:59 mark, a layup by Maggie Johnston, and the Bulls went to the lockerroom up by 12, 38-26.

The Penguins came out on fire in the second half, and they outscored the Bulls by a 41-29 margin over the next 20 minutes of play. Youngstown State began the half on an 8-1 run to cut Buffalo's lead to five, 39-34, but the Bulls answered back and went up by 11, 52-41, with 10:37 remaining on the clock. The Penguins kept chipping away, however, and they took their first lead of the half with 1:33 on the clock, 65-63, on a three-pointer by Devin Novak. Kilpela made one of two free throws to make the score 65-64 at the 1:14 mark, but the Bulls proceeded to miss three shots to take the lead. Novak made two free throws to put the Penguins up by three, 67-64, and Lawrenson then forced overtime with a three-pointer at the top of the key with 1.7 seconds remaining on the Bulls' final in-bounds play of regulation.

The Penguins appeared to gain control in the overtime period, and they were up by five, 80-75, with just over a minute to play. The Bulls scored the final 11 points of the game, including seven by junior Jessica Kochendorfer (Allen, MI/Quincy). McMeeken-Ruscoe started the final run with a jumper with 51 seconds left on the clock, and Kochendorfer hit two free throws to put the Bulls within one, 80-79, with 26 seconds remaining. Lawrenson grabbed a loose ball on YSU's next in-bounds play, and Kochendorfer then converted a three-point play on a second-chance bucket to give the Bulls an 82-80 lead with 12.5 seconds remaining. The Penguins threw away the in-bounds pass on their next possession, and sophomore Allison Bennett (Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge) and Kochendorfer knocked down two free throws apiece in the waning seconds to put the game out of reach.

"Youngstown State never quits and we knew that going into the second half," said head coach Cheryl Dozier. "I though Erin Lawrenson did a great job of not rushing her shot at the end of regulation. She's a clutch-basket player, and instead, she got a good look and tied the game for us to force overtime. There's something special about this team. There has never been a panic to them yet this season. They stay calm and just don't give up."

In addition to McMeeken-Ruscoe, the Bulls had three other players finish in double figures in scoring. Kilpela added 18 points off the bench and Bennett finished with a career-high 16 points. Kochendorfer posted her third straight double-double with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The Penguins were led by Novak and Jen Perugini with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

The Bulls are next at Mount St. Mary's for a 3 pm game on Saturday, December 21 in Emmitsburg, MD. They then return home to host Oakland at 7 pm on Monday, December 30 in Alumni Arena.