PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – After heading into overtime for the first time this season, Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball had its three-game win streak snapped, falling 76-71 at Maryland Eastern Shore in double overtime, Saturday, Jan. 23, inside W.P. Hytche Athletic Center.
It was senior Jasmine Knowles (Romulus, Mich.) who made the first extra five minutes possible after the 5-foot-3 point guard knocked down two foul shots with 45 seconds left in regulation, putting B-CU(10-9, 4-2 MEAC) up, 51-50.
The Hawks (5-13, 3-3 MEAC) then answered with a layup and two shots from the charity stipe of their own, before Knowles sank one from the top of the key with five seconds left to play, tying score at 53.
After a UMES timeout to advance the ball, it was Knowles again who came up big with a steal as the game clock expired, sending the contest into OT.
During the first extra period, Knowles connected with rookie Angel Golden (Tampa, Fla.) twice, while junior Taylor Houston (Raleigh, N.C.) hit four foul shots. UMES would match the B-CU nine points, forcing a second overtime period.
After connecting with Houston from downtown, giving the Wildcats their largest lead of the game (69-65), Knowles fouled out at the 2:33 mark in double overtime after playing 48 minutes and tallying a season-best 16 points and career-high 11 rebounds to go along with 8 assists. Finishing two assists shy of a triple-double, the senior floor general recorded the first double-double of her Wildcats career.
Two foul shots from UMES' Ciani Byrom following the Knowles foul broke the games 12th tie, giving the Hawks the 70-69 lead with 2:23 left in the second overtime.
Golden was fouled on the floor with 1:21 left – with the rookie connecting on both shots, bringing the game back within one before UMES closed the game on a 4-0 run, snapping the Wildcats three-game win streak with the 76-71 victory.
The back-and-forth game saw a total of 12 ties and 10 lead changes overall.
Houston led the Wildcats offensively, finishing with 20 points, while Knowles and Golden each added 16 points apiece.
Knowles' 11 rebounds was also a team-best during the setback, while junior teammate Kailyn Williams (New Orleans, La.) matched her effort and added four blocked shots.
Moengaroa Subritzky led the UMES effort with a team-best 19 points, while four Hawks finished in double-figures and Taryana Kelly collected a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
After trailing for much of the first half, Bethune-Cookman rallied for a 14-2 run over the course of the final eight minutes in the second quarter.
Ashanti Hunt began the run for the Maroon and Gold with a layup, added a Golden jumper moments later – followed by her three-pointer off the pass from Alea Godfrey. With Houston's layup inside a minute and a half to play in the opening half, B-CU carried a 23-21 advantage into the locker room at the intermission.
The Wildcats return to action on Monday, Jan. 25, as Bethune-Cookman travels to the Nation's Capital to take on Howard at 5:30 p.m., in Burr Gymnasium.
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