Box Score
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Freshman
Moni Smith-Ocran (Bronx, N.Y.) connected on a putback layup at the second half buzzer to force overtime, and the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team made good of the extra time from there in a 60-54 win over New Haven on Sunday afternoon.
The Owls improved to 6-6, 2-5 in Northeast-10 play with the win. UNH is now 2-8, 1-6 in league play.
Smith-Ocran's basket tied the game at 49-49 at the end of regulation.
Sylvonya Moore (Stockton, Calif.) hit a jumper just over a minute into overtime to give the Owls a 51-49 lead, but the Chargers scored five straight points to take their largest lead of the game, 54-51.
Southern Connecticut then scored the final nine points of the contest to secure the win. Moore and
Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa.) each hit one of two free throws to get the Owls within a point at 54-53. Smith-Ocran then capped a flurry with a layup that gave the hosts a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
The Owls jumped out to a quick start against the Chargers, scoring 11 of the first 13 points of the game. After a UNH basket, SCSU then went on a 10-2 run to take a 21-6 lead with 6:26 remaining in the stanza. However, the Chargers closed the half with a 13-2 run to trim the hosts' advantage to just four at halftime, 23-19.
Southern Connecticut remained in control for the first part of the second half. The Owls led by as many as eight, 38-30, with 12:38 remaining, before the Chargers rolled off nine straight points to take a 39-38 advantage.
From there, the lead went back and forth in the final eight minutes of regulation. UNH led by two on two separate occasions in the final minute of the half. However, the Owls had a chance to tie the game with the final possession. Lentz missed a jumper but Smith-Ocran was there to collect the rebound and convert on the follow.
Moore led all scorers with 20 points in the contest. She also had eight rebounds.
Smith-Ocran finished with eight points, 12 rebounds and three steals in just 15 minutes off the bench.
The Owls are back in action on Wednesday at Stonehill.
