LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 50-49 loss that came down to a pair of Lock Haven University free throws with five seconds remaining in overtime.
 
The Rock moved to a 1-7 overall record and a 1-4 showing within Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition. The victory for Lock Haven marked the 10^th straight win for the Bald Eagles, who improved to 10-1 overall and 5-0 in the PSAC.
 
Regan Atkins led the scoring for Slippery Rock with 13 points in conjunction with a team-high nine rebounds. Joining Atkins in playing the full 45 minutes, Gabby Jackson tallied a career-high 11 points while leading The Rock with four steals and three assists.
 
Deryn Moye put together her best game from 3-point range, shooting 2-of-2 on the way to an eight-point afternoon. Kristina Donza and Kelley McKnight both pulled in six rebounds while Endya Robinson secured five.
 
After a strong 27-9 first half performance in its last outing against Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock picked up right where it left off by starting the game on a 7-0 run against Lock Haven. The Rock concluded the first quarter on an additional 6-0 wave, riding a 13-5 lead into the second quarter.
 
Slippery Rock did not score in the first 4:15 of the second quarter, but never lost the lead in the process. Instead, SRU ended the half on a 9-2 tilt that was jumpstarted by a pair of baskets from Anye Washington including a 3-pointer. SRU's 22-10 advantage at halftime marked its second consecutive halftime lead this season. The margin would also end up being The Rock's largest lead of the game.
 
SRU found itself slipping into foul trouble in the third quarter, as Lock Haven utilized six free throws to outscore The Rock, 16-9.  
 
Slippery Rock held onto the lead until Lock Haven evened the score at 35-35 with 5:08 to play in the fourth quarter. After a pair of free throws from Donza and McKnight, the Bald Eagles again tied the game 37-37 with 3:38 on the clock. LHU earned a narrow 42-39 advantage after swapping trips to the foul line with 19 seconds remaining.
 
In their final possession of regulation, The Rock looked to Jackson who hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to equalize the game at 42-42. The Bald Eagles came up empty on their trip back down, sending Slippery Rock to overtime for the first time since a Feb. 16, 2021 contest against Mercyhurst University (40 gmaes).
 
Overtime proved to be a thrilling five minutes highlighted by five different lead changes. Following a 1:53 scoring drought, LHU went up 44-42 on a driving layup. After Atkins answered with a bucket of her own, the Bald Eagles would again take a 46-44 lead with 1:31 to play.
 
Moye made her second 3-pointer of the day with 42 seconds left in the frame. Lock Haven would then cash in a pair of free throws only for Atkins to make a layup with 16 seconds remaining, giving SRU a 49-48 lead.
 
However, Lock Haven's Jenadia Jordan would get the final say by making two free throws with five seconds to spare. The Rock were unable to get a shot off in the game's final seconds as they suffered their second defeat of two or fewer points this year.
 
Alana Robinson led the Bald Eagles with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks. Jordan was next closest to accompany her in double-double territory, ending the game with 10 points, nine rebounds and three of LHU's nine steals.
 
Slippery Rock shot 19-of-63 (.302) from the floor, while Lock Haven salvaged 14-of-61 (.230). Neither side fared well from 3-point land, as SRU made 4-of-17 (.235) compared to Lock Haven's 1-of-18 (.056).
 
The Rock connected on 7-of-11 (.636) trips to the foul line while LHU took advantage of a 25-10 difference in fouls by making 21-of-26 (.808) free throws. The Bald Eagles also outrebounded The Rock 51-42.
 
Slippery Rock will face its final PSAC East opponent of the year 3 p.m. Jan. 3 when it hosts Kutztown University at Morrow Field House. The Rock last played the Golden Bears in 2021, falling 62-47 at home.




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