LAS VEGAS, NV -- Despite a career-high 29 points from junior
Reeya Patel, the #6 Amherst College women's basketball team lost its first game of the season Thursday, dropping a double-overtime heartbreaker to Concordia (Mn.) College, 79-68, at the South Point Arena as part of the D3hoops.com Classic.
Amherst fell to 8-1 on the season. The Mammoths are back in action Saturday vs. Whittier in a game scheduled to be played at Chapman University. Concordia improved to 6-2 on the season.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* The game featured eight tie scores and eight lead changes with neither team holding more than a 6-point lead for the first 45 minutes of the game, before The Cobbers outscored Amherst 13-2 -- including the final 9 points -- in the second overtime session.
* The Mammoths scored the final 5 points of the third quarter to regain the lead. Patel nailed a three-pointer with 1:21 remaining to put Amherst up, 47-46.
Abbey Skinner came up with a steal that led to a Patel lay-up on the break for a three-point advantage. The Mammoths were up 49-46 heading into the final quarter.
* Amherst led 58-56 with under a minute left in regulation thanks in part to a pair of
Kori Barach lay-ups.
Maya Cwalina made one of two free throw attempts with 47 seconds left to make it 59-56 Mammoths, but Concordia's Makayla Anderson drained a trey with 34 seconds left to tie the game.
* The Mammoths had two chances to win it, but an
AnLing Vera shot was off target and a Barach putback attempt off an offensive rebound also missed with one second left.
* Vera nailed a three 10 seconds into the first overtime to put Amherst back up by three, but the Cobbers fought back to take a 64-62 lead before a Cwalina jumper tied the game at 64 with 3:39 left in the extra session.
Anna Tranum's jumper with 2:45 left put Amherst up by two, but Concordia tied it again. The Mammoths had two chances in the final minute but each did not come to fruition.
* The Cobbers dominated the second overtime as the Mammoths shot 1 for 10 from the floor in the period.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Patel finished with a double-double adding 10 rebounds to her 29 points. Tranum, Cwalina and Vera each finished with 9 points for Amherst.
* Cwalina and Barach each had 12 rebounds to lead the Mammoths.
