GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Catawba regrouped in overtime and claimed a 73-68 victory over host Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference Women's basketball action on Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena. The Catawba Indians improve 16-6 overall and 6-4 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 12-10 and 4-7 SAC.
Catawba built a 16-point edge late in the first half, but saw Tusculum battle back and take two point leads on three occasions in the final four minutes. After a lay-up by Brooke Underwood (Knoxville, TN) with 27 seconds left, Gia Colombo (Concord, NH) tied the score at 57-57 and forced overtime with a lay-up of her own with 16 seconds remaining.
Catawba shot just 32 percent in the second half, but got two free throws by NeKeithia Howard (Macon, GA) and a basket by Ingrid Easter (Cana, VA) to open the extra session. After Underwood tied the game on a jumper, Howard connected on two more free throws and a jumper for a 65-61 Catawba lead.
Tamekia Foster (Chesapeake, VA) converted a three-point play with 1:08 remaining to put the ladies on top 68-63. Catawba made five-of-six at the line in the final 25 seconds to hold on for the win, finishing 10-of-11 from the stripe in the overtime period.
After falling down 7-3 early, Catawba used a 14-0 run to take a 17-7 lead and held the lead until the final minutes. The ladies led 35-19 with 1:35 to go before the half and led 35-23 at the break. Tusculum would charge back in the second half and used a 12-1 run to grab a 53-51 lead on a lay-up by Chassity Martin (Salem, VA) with 3:45 remaining.
Easter led Catawba with 17 points and nearly posted a double-double as she grabbed nine rebounds. Foster did post a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Colombo also reached double-figures with 10 points, while Howard scored eight points and grabbed 11 boards.
Martin led all scorers with 22 points for Tusculum. Ashli Oliver (Kokomo, IN) added 18 points, while Lindsay Barta (Kalamazoo, MI) scored 13 points. Underwood had four points and nine assists. Catawba finished the game shooting 39 percent, while the Pioneers were limited to 33 percent shooting. Catawba also won the battle of the boards by a 57-35 margin.
