Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey women's basketball team (7-3)  defeated a talented Transylvania University squad (3-4) on Tuesday night by in an exciting battle in overtime by a final score of 64-60. 

In the first quarter, both teams came out with intensity and traded baskets. The Lions were trailing with 10-7 with two and a half minutes to play, and Samantha Famulare (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp) followed her missed shot and hit the put back lay up. On the next possession, the Lions utilized effective ball movement, and Famulare found Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Medford) from beyond the arc and she knocked down the three pointer to make it 12-10.

The Lions were trailing 22-16 in the second quarter, and used an 8-2 run to pull within two points as Famulare scored on a strong take to the hole. Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) hit a left handed jump hook to pull the Lions within 36-29 with 19 seconds left in the half. The first half was a back and forth affair, as there were six lead changes.

In the third quarter, the Lions were trailing 40-29 however refused to go away as they clawed back with a 10-4 stretch. Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) hit a step back three pointer to pull the Lions within five. The Lions prevented the Pioneers from extending their lead to double digits the remainder of the quarter.

The Lions were trailing 48-41 in the fourth quarter, and O'Leary continued to let it fly as she knocked down another three pointer to pull the Lions within four. After the Pioneers hit a three pointer to go up 53-46, the Lions countered with a 9-0 run to take the lead. O'Leary sunk another three pointer off of a feed from Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic). With 2:30 remaining, Byrne hit a mid-range jumper that beat the shot clock to tie it up at 53-53.  Two possessions later, the Pioneers took it to the basket but Devitt came up with a big block, and the Lions got the rebound. Devitt continued to leave her presence on the game, as she controlled an offensive rebound with 19.9 seconds left and almost got the acrobatic and-one to go as her put back attempt rimmed out. She hit both free throws, however the Pioneers converted on the offensive end to tie it up at 55 with 13 seconds remaining.    

In overtime, O'Leary remained confident and knocked down a three pointer to put the Lions up 58-55, however the Pioneers answered with their own trifecta. The Pioneers held a 60-58 lead with 1:10 to play, but Schum was fouled as she converted on a strong take to the bucket to tie the game. She missed the free throw, however Devitt kept it alive and the Lions got the deadball rebound. O'Leary then hit two free throws to put the Lions up 62-60, and the Pioneers had their opportunities as they had three looks from beyond the arc but could not get them to fall, and Devitt came up with the big rebound once again. The Lions made the necessary free throws to hold onto the victory, and Devitt grabbed her tenth rebound at the buzzer for her fifth double-double of the year.

O'Leary led the Lions in scoring for the second straight game as she finished with 19 points. Byrne scored 15 points on 7-14 (50%) shooting from the floor and added seven rebounds. Devitt finished with 12 points and went 6-6 from the free throw line, and added six blocks to go along with her ten boards. Shelby Boyle led the Pioneers with 24 points and ten rebounds.

The Lions will resume play when they will travel to face Arcadia University on December 30^th at 1:00 pm.