Ewing, NJ … A late rush in regulation by The College of New Jersey women's basketball team propelled the Lions to a 64-59 overtime win over Stevens Institute of Technology on Monday night in Packer Hall.
 
TCNJ (8-6) extended its winning streak to six straight, while snapping the Ducks (8-4) four-game run in an exciting non-conference match-up.
 
The Lions executed well offensively in the extra period. Patience moving the ball led to 5-of-7 shooting in OT, while making good on all three free-throw attempts. Senior Christina Merlin (North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop Ahr) came up big in overtime period scoring five points, including a short jumper with 1:09 remaining as the shot clock expired to give the Lions a 60-57 advantage.
 
Sophomore Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) also came through in the clutch. She scored the final four points of the game, icing the contest with a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left on the clock.
 
TCNJ senior Angelica Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney) led all scorers with 23 points. Freshman Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) finished with 11 points, while senior Jess Lynch (Newtown, CT/Newtown) was all over the floor finishing with four points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
Sluggish play throughout much of the game evolved into an exciting finish. Stevens took a lead early in the second period and never looked back. The Lions had trouble finding their rhythm on offense, but hung tough on the defensive end to keep the game in reach. TCNJ trailed 41-34 with 8:14 remaining, but a 6-0 run punctuated by a three-pointer from O'Leary cut the deficit to a single point. Stevens senior Miranda Ripken converted two free throws to stretch the visitor lead to 45-41, but O'Leary struck again from long distance. On the ensuing possession, Schott took a pass from junior Kim Dana (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) and found the bottom of the net from short range to give TCNJ its first advantage since the first minute of the second quarter.
 
A layup by Megan Brown and two more Ripken free throws gave the Ducks a three-point edge. Moments later, a circus shot off the fingertips of Esposito followed by a free throw knotted the score at 49 with 1:31 left on the clock. Senior Kaitlyn Astel, who scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half, pulled up to drain a 12-foot jumper and the Ducks were back in front 51-49.
 
Esposito was fouled with 15 seconds left and the nation's leader in free-throw percentage drained both to tie the game at 51 and send it to overtime. The Lions took command from the tip and secured their eighth victory in their last nine games.
 
Ripken finished with 12 points and four assists for Stevens. Senior Dylan Krause collected a game-high 11 boards to go with seven points.
 
The Lions return to New Jersey Athletic Conference action this Wednesday night when they host Kean University in Packer Hall at 8 p.m.