BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – In a gutsy performance on both ends of the court, the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team handed visiting California (PA) University its first loss of the season as the Huskies defeated the Vulcans 59-58 in overtime Friday night. With the win, the Huskies improved to 3-3 and opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action 1-0. The Vulcans dropped to 4-1 and 0-1 in PSAC action.
 
With just eight seconds to play in regulation, Ciaira Loyd hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 51-51. Graduate student Emma Saxton's (York, Pa./Central York) last-second jumper spun out of the rim to send the conference opener for both teams into overtime. Junior Samantha Brusha (Abington, PA/Abington) drew a foul just seven seconds into the overtime period and converted both free throws to give the Huskies a 53-51 lead. After Brionna Allen hit the back end of a trip to the free-throw line with 4:26 to play, Allen grabbed a defense board after a missed shot by the Huskies. Allen quickly turned it over, and Saxton grabbed the steal and got the ball ahead to graduate student Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer). Corridoni hit the jumper at the other end and pushed the Huskies' lead back to three, 55-52, with 3:11 to play in the extra period.
 
A layup by Shauna Harrison on the other end cut the advantage back to one, and she completed the traditional three-point play to tie the game at 55-55 with 2:27 to play. Nearing the end of their next possession, Brusha hit a three for the Huskies thanks to a pass from freshman Lauren Kirsch (Palmyra, PA/Lower Dauphin). Another layup by Loyd got the Vulcans back to within one, 58-57, but Saxton's free throw with 38 seconds left gave the Huskies a two-point lead, 59-57. After the two teams traded a turnover with six seconds to play, Dejah Terrell drew a foul with just 0.6 left on the clock. Terrell hit the first of two shots, but her second bounced off of the back iron, and Corridoni grabbed the rebound as time expired to seal the thrilling 59-58 win for BU.
 
The Vulcans took a 13-10 lead after the first quarter, but the Huskies turned the tides on Cal U and out-scored the Vulcans 15-9 in the second to take a 25-22 lead into halftime. The Huskies shot an incredible 77.8% from the floor in the second period going 7-for-9, and was 1-for-2 from three-point range. Bloomsburg held Cal U to a 17.7% shooting second quarter as they went just 3-for-17 from the floor and 0-for-4 from long range.
 
In the third, Cal U out-scored Bloomsburg 14-8, but Bloomsburg used an 18-15 lead in the fourth to force overtime.
 
The Huskies held the Vulcans to their lowest shooting percentage for a game this season as they shot just 27.1% from the floor (19-for-70) for the game and were just 2- for-17 (11.8%) from beyond the arc. The Vulcans scored 18 points from the free-throw line and went 18-for-22 from the charity stripe.
 
On the other side of the court, the Huskies shot 41.2% from the floor (21-for-51) and were 6-for-12 from long range, including Kirsch, who went 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, a career-best for the freshman. The Huskies were 11-for-15 (73.3%) from the free-throw line for the game.
 
Corridoni led the way for the Huskies with 15 points and six rebounds, while Kirsch chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists. Saxton finished the day with 10 points, six rebounds, and a team-best six assists. She added three steals and had one block as well.
 
The Huskies out-rebounded the Vulcans 44-39 while the Vulcans forced 33 turnovers and scored 32 points off of them.
 
On Saturday, Bloomsburg gets right back to action as the Huskies host Slippery Rock University in the second of two PSAC East/West crossover games slated for this weekend. Tip-off between the Rock and Huskies is slated for 5:30 pm at Nelson Field House.