ORANGE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (12-12, 7-8 SCIAC) came back to beat Chapman University on Wednesday night as they came up with an important, 69-68, overtime win.
The first five minutes of the game were tough for the Bulldogs finding themselves down double figures, 12-2. Alex Facelo (San Jose, CA) and Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA) then combined for seven points to get UR within three just three minutes later.
Again, down double figures in the first five minutes of the second quarter, Redlands got another important response run, this time Leaya McKinney (Sedalia, CO) finding Hosn for a jumper in the paint that would begin a 15-2 run putting them ahead, 32-29, at the half.
Beginning the third quarter Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA), Hosn, and AJ Wick (Henderson, NV) combined for eight points to extend the Bulldog lead to their largest of the game at five, 40-35, with 3:48 remaining in the third.
The back-and-forth continued as the Panthers were able to respond with an 11-4 run to regain the lead after 30 minutes.
In the final quarter neither team led by more than two possessions as the teams were tied at 58-58 with :28 seconds remaining. Following a pair of made free throws by Chapman, Head Coach Rich Murphy called a timeout and set up a play that resulted in a layup for Hosn to equalize the game at 60-60 with :19 seconds remaining.
The last second shot to win the game by the Panthers was no good and the game headed into overtime.
In that final five-minute period, Redlands found themselves down by three, 68-65, with :26 seconds left. Then coming out of another timeout the Bulldogs got a look from behind the arc for Facelo, but it was off the mark. Hosn, however, came up with the offensive rebound and scored to get UR within one with :17 ticks to go.
The U of R would then foul and get a gift of two missed free throws that then turned into a Panther foul with three seconds remaining. Hosn would make Chapman pay by converting both of hers to secure the road win.
Hosn had a career day with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Wick added another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. McKinney had a big night off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Redlands is now in a tie for fourth in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings heading into the final game of the season with the top five qualifying for the SCIAC Tournament. Their playoff fate will be determined this Saturday, February 22 at first place Whittier College beginning at 5:00 p.m.
