DeLand, Fla. - Lipscomb guard Hannah Phillips sank a free throw with seven seconds left in overtime that allowed the visiting Lady Bisons (6-6, 3-0 Atlantic Sun) to claim a 73-72 win over host Stetson (5-7, 1-2 A-Sun) Monday at the Edmunds Center. Six Hatters scored in double figures for the first time since Feb. 19, 2000 at UCF, led by freshman forward Sasha Sims (Fayetteville, Ga.) with 13 points. Senior center Natasha Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) recorded her second double-double of the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Down 31-28 at halftime, the Hatters rallied from a seven-point deficit to lead by four, 65-61, with 3:04 to play in regulation. Phillips started Lipscomb's road back with a three-pointer 35 seconds later; after a Jenna Bartsokas free throw with 1:50 to play tied the game at 65, neither team would find the bottom of the net before the buzzer sounded. Bartsokas's last second mid-range jumper for the win rolled off the iron.
Graboski drained a three-pointer 53 seconds into overtime that gave the Hatters a 68-65 advantage, but Lipscomb scored the game's next five points and Stetson would not grab the lead again. The Hatters did answer a pair of two-point deficits with game-tying buckets, the last of which from sophomore guard/forward Simone Taylor (Delray Beach, Fla.) made it 72-72 with 34 seconds left.
Stetson played solid defense for most of the last fatal Lipscomb possession, but a foul with two seconds on the shot clock sent Phillips to the line. She missed the first but sank the second for the 73-72 margin; the Hatters could not get a shot off in the final seven seconds.
Taylor set season highs in three categories with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists; the assist total tied her career high set Dec. 1, 2009 at St. John's. Sophomore guard Victoria McGowan (Inkster, Mich.) contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists while senior forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) (12 points, seven rebounds) and senior guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) (10 points) also scored in double figures for Stetson.
The outstanding three-point shooting of Bartsokas (5-7), Bowers (4-11) and Phillips (3-5) kept Lipscomb in position to win the game. Bartsokas finished with 26 points, five assists and four rebounds while Bowers had 17 points and six rebounds and Phillips 12 points and six boards. Miaca Bowman handed out a game-high six assists for the Lady Bisons, who remained unbeaten in league action and tied for first in the standings.
The Hatters will look to regroup at 5 p.m. Wednesday when A-Sun rival Belmont visits the Edmunds Center. Live Stats and Hatter Vision with Bill Topping and Dee Romine are available as always at GoHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
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