WARRIORS PULL OFF BIG OVERTIME WIN AT HOME

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - The Warriors secured a big overtime victory over the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils on Saturday afternoon, winning 82-76 to fight off a comeback effort by the Blue Devils. The Warriors started the game out hot, leading by as much as 21 points before LTU caught fire in the fourth quarter. However, in overtime, big plays by Ashley Loon and Shahd Bakkar helped the Warriors secure the win. Five Warriors scored in double figures, with Loon leading the team with 17 points on 5-8 shooting. LTU was led by forward Reece Williams with 21. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

The Warriors' press was dominant in the first half, helping the Warriors jump out to a 15-1 lead thanks to steals by Bakkar and Melanie Moore. The Warriors continued to roll from there, with Loon hitting a three before forward Emily Lockey stole a pass and set up Jacey Somers for a jumper. Loon nailed another three and added a steal to continue the dominant first quarter for the Warriors. 

After a few baskets by the Blue Devils closed the gap a little, the Warriors continued to push the pace with baskets inside by Moore and Demi Rodriguez, who flew down the court in transition after the Warriors continued to force turnovers. Rodriguez knocked down a three shortly after to expand the lead to 21 points to the home crowd's delight. RCU played great defense, getting a couple more transition baskets before the halftime break to keep a commanding lead. 

SECOND HALF

The Blue Devils started to show signs of life in the third quarter after the Warriors got a few baskets in the paint to fall, beginning with a three by Williams to start threatening the lead. The Warriors continued to force turnovers and kept up the lead thanks to another three by Loon and a steal-and-score from Samone Andrews. The Warriors got back up 18 thanks to strong minutes from Tambre Williams and Rodriguez, who gave the Warriors energy midway through the third. However, the Blue Devils began to make a big push at the end of the third with a 7-0 run. 

The fourth quarter was a very rocky ten minutes for the Warriors, who shot 17.1% for the duration of the period. The Blue Devils had no intention to match that, storming back into the game with some big baskets inside, thanks to offensive rebounds. After the Warriors went up 11 with 5:30 to go, the Blue Devils embarked on an 11-0 run to snatch the lead from the hosts at 69-68. The Warriors regained the lead thanks to a basket inside by Tambre Williams, and went up three with two more Bakkar free throws. However, an LTU three tied the game up and both teams were knotted up at the buzzer. 

OVERTIME

The Warriors had been dead in the water all fourth quarter long, but things dramatically went back in their favor when Loon stole a pass in the LTU frontcourt and hit a layup while fouled to give the Warriors a 74-71 lead early in overtime. After getting a stop, the Warriors got two free throws from Andrews to expand the lead to five, but that lead was cut to two off an ensuing three by LTU. The Blue Devils tied the game on two free throws shortly after, but the Warriors got the separation they needed when Bakkar hit a three in the corner following a made free throw by Williams. 

STAT OF THE GAME

The turnover battle was fairly even, but the Warriors scored 34 points off turnovers compared to the Blue Devils' 22. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors take on the Cleary Cougars on the road on Dec. 18. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Peighton Douglas - Rochester Christian University