Nov. 15, 2009
Box Score
NEW YORK - Seniors Hanna Reising and Melissa Jeltema, and freshman Bethany Watterworth all scored 12 points, while senior Riikka Terava grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds as the Oakland University women's basketball team (1-1) won a 61-58 overtime thriller over Columbia (1-1) on Sunday at the Levien Gymnasium.
Columbia opened scoring quickly, as the Lions went on a fast-break off the opening tip. Judie Lomax put the Lions on the board just four seconds into the contest. However, the Golden Grizzlies responded, and pushed ahead by six (12-6) at the 11:50 mark as junior Anna Patritto split a pair of free throws.
The Lions came back to tie the contest at 14-14 just two minutes later. Oakland took a 16-14 lead at the 7:54 mark after a jumper by Jeltema, but a 3-pointer by Columbia's Kathleen Barry gave the Lions a one-point (17-16) lead at the 6:24 mark.
A jumper in the paint on the next possession by Jeltema gave Oakland a one point (18-17) lead, and after a Lions turnover, Reising buried a 3-pointer to push the OU lead to four (21-17). The Golden Grizzlies held as much as a five-point lead over the final few minutes of the half, but Barry hit a jumper with 20 seconds left to cut the OU lead to three (26-23) going into the half.
Oakland opened the second half on a 11-4 run to push the lead to 12 (37-25) at the 17:10 mark, but Columbia stormed back, outscoring the Golden Grizzlies 22-7 over the next 14 minutes, and taking a 3-point lead (47-44) at the 3:43 mark.
OU chipped away at the Lions' lead, and a layup by Watterworth with 1:49 remaining in regulation tied the contest at 52-52, before Lomax split a pair of free-throws with 13 seconds remaining to give Columbia a 53-52 lead.
On the following possession, OU's Sharise Calhoun was fouled and split a pair of free-throws, tying the contest with nine seconds remaining. Columbia had one last chance in the second half, but the Lions' Sara Yee missed a layup in the final second and the game went into overtime.
In the overtime, however, it was the Lions who struck first as Yee buried a 3-pointer just over 30 seconds into the extra period. OU scored buckets on the next two possessions, taking a one-point (57-56) lead with 2:06 remaining before Lomax gave the Lions a 58-57 lead just 30 second later after a layup.
However, Jeltema hit a jumper to give OU the lead for good with 1:14 remaining, and after Reising hit a pair of free-throws with 22 seconds left, pushing the lead to three, the Lions were unable to convert on two final opportunities and the Golden Grizzlies held on for the win.
Lomax led all players with a monster night, scoring 19 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Oakland held a 43.1 to 36.9 advantage in shooting, while Columbia outrebounded Oakland 41-34.
The Golden Grizzlies will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 18, as they host the University of Toledo at the Athletics Center O'Rena. A 6:30 p.m. tip is scheduled.
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