ROME, Ga. — Peyton Nation matched her career-high scoring for the third time this season and Belmont Abbey rallied late in the second half but it was Shorter who came away with a 57-55 overtime victory over the Crusaders Saturday afternoon at the Winthrop-King Centre.
Trailing 51-47 with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, Belmont Abbey rallied with baskets from Nation and
Riley James along with a pair of defensive stops to force overtime with the Hawks. Belmont Abbey had rallied back from as many as 12 points down earlier in the game.
Nation finished with 21 points to lead all scorers while
Janiah Shular also had 10 points for the Abbey.
Belmont Abbey is now 19-5 overall and 13-3 in Conference Carolinas play. Shorter is 18-4 overall and 13-2 in the league. Saturday's contest was a matchup of division leaders in the Northwest and Southwest Divisions, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders and Hawks battled back-and-forth early as the two teams were deadlocked at 7-7.
- Shorter closed the quarter on a 9-4 run and led by as many as 12 points in the first half.
- Belmont Abbey began to rally in the third quarter and began the second half on a 7-2 run.
- Shorter pushed the lead back out to 11 points late in the third quarter but a pair of jumpers from Madison Lusk and Cate Schieber got the Crusaders within six to end the third quarter.
- Schieber opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and Belmont Abbey pulled even at 43-all with Nation's basket with 3:36 remaining.
- Nation's layup with 2:16 gave Belmont Abbey its first lead of the day at 47-46.
- Shorter pushed the lead back to 51-47 with 27 seconds left before Nation's tip-in got the Abbey back within 2.
- After a steal from Schieber, James knocked down a jumper from the free throw line with 6.9 seconds left in regulation. The Crusaders made a stop to force overtime.
- Shular accounted for all four points for Belmont Abbey in overtime but Shorter made the go-ahead basket with 30.6 seconds left.
- The Crusaders had chances to either tie or win the game in regulation but could not get a basket to fall in the final seconds.
- James led Belmont Abbey with five assists on the day.
- The Crusaders finished with 10 steals on the day. It is the ninth time that the team has had double-digit steals this season.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey begins a closing three-game home stand against division rival Converse on Wednesday.
- Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Wheeler Center.