TIFFIN, Ohio - The Wilmington College women's basketball team, which led for a total of seven seconds in regulation, came from eight points down in the final six minutes to defeat Heidelberg University 67-56 in overtime in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
Despite shooting just 26.7 percent (4-of-15) in the first quarter, Wilmington trailed just 15-11 after 10 minutes. Heidelberg scored the first six points of the second quarter to open up a 10-point advantage. The Quakers, who trailed 25-15 with three minutes to play in the quarter, ended the half on a 7-1 run to trail 27-22 at the break.
Similar to the second quarter, Heidelberg scored the first four points of the third quarter and maintained a seven-point advantage after three quarters. The hosts led by eight (49-41) with just under six minutes to play in the game, but an 8-0 run from the visitors including two baskets from McKayla Binkley and buckets from Savannah Hooper and Hannah Binkley tied the game 49-49 with 3:34 to play. Heidelberg answered with back-to-back baskets to go back ahead 53-49.
A Kennedy Lewis layup at the 1:53 mark cut the deficit to 53-51. Both Brooke Beamer and McKayla Binkley converted 1-of-2 from the free throw line giving Heidelberg the ball with a 54-52 lead. Alyssa Riley, who hit the go-ahead triple in the Student Princes victory at Hermann Court earlier this season, missed a three-pointer that would have put the game away. Lewis got the defensive rebound and was fouled. The Springboro High School alumnae calmly hit both free throws to tie the game 54-54.
Heidelberg had a chance to win it in regulation, but a Michelle Lee steal sent the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, Wilmington scored first, using a Lewis layup and two free throws from McKayla Binkley. Madelyn Crawford made two free throws to get Heidelberg back within two, but that would be the only points of the overtime for the Student Princes. Wilmington held its opponent without a field goal in overtime as Lewis, McKayla Binkley and Lee finished off the Quakers' first overtime win since defeating Muskingum University in Feb. 1, 2017.
"This was a huge win for us," Head Women's Basketball Coach Jerry Scheve said. "We really struggled shooting the ball all day, but kept competing, final caught them and played great in overtime."
Wilmington finished 23-of-57 (40.4 percent) from the floor, but made a season-low 1-of-16 (6.3 percent) from three-point land. Heidelberg was held to 21-of-67 (31.3 percent) from the floor and 4-of-23 (17.4 percent) from distance. The Quakers held a 20-10 edge in free throws made while the Student Princes, thanks in large part of 21 offensive rebounds, won the rebounding battle 45-39.
McKayla Binkley led all scorers with 21 points including seven field goals and seven free throws. She also grabbed eight rebounds, along with Faith Teaford, and had four blocks. Lewis contributed 19 points with nine of those coming from the free throw line.
Beamer finished with 11 points for Heidelberg while Crawford turned in a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Wilmington (10-9, 5-7 OAC) heads to Otterbein University for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday.