Box Score


 
HOUSTON – Behind career-high performances from senior forward Aja Gibson and junior guard Elizabeth Styles, the Southeastern Louisiana women's basketball team earned an 85-84 double overtime Southland Conference victory over Houston Baptist Saturday afternoon at Sharp Gym.
 
The Lady Lions (5-14, 4-3 Southland) erased a 14-point deficit in the final 6:40 of regulation behind the efforts of Gibson, who set career highs with 33 points and 16 rebounds, and Styles, who netted a career-high 30 points. Styles' floater with 1.6 seconds left in double overtime was enough to send Southeastern to the dramatic win over new league member HBU (7-12, 3-5 Southland).
 
"We showed some toughness and grit tonight," Southeastern head coach Lori Davis Jones said. "It was especially impressive considering how we played on Thursday (an 83-54 loss at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). We were very pleased with how we were able to bounce back and earn a tough Southland road win."
 
Gibson and Styles are the first Lady Lion teammates to both top 30 points in a game during Jones' 12-year tenure. The Southeastern head coach was quick to compliment Saturday's two stars.
 
"Aja and Liz both exhibited the will to win and played with great competitiveness," Jones commented. "Aja did what a senior go-to player is supposed to – demand the ball and play with the determination to get the job done. Her work ethic throughout her career has led to her become the player she has. Liz simply wasn't going to let us lose. Her ability to slash into the lane and get to the free throw line was vital for us tonight."
 
Gibson and Styles' efforts highlighted a strong effort by the Southeastern starting five. Junior guard Symone Miller dropped in 14 points, while sophomore forward Nanna Pool grabbed 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Erica Hernandez chipped in with a career-high four steals. The trio of Miller (6-for-6), Styles (12-for-15) and Gibson (9-for-10) helped Southeastern go 27-34 from the free throw line.
 
Gibson, who posted her fourth double-double of the year, continued to move up the school's career lists in several categories. The Somerville, Tenn. native moved past Amy Wier and Sharon Berry into 11^th place with 1,112 points, leapfrogged Janice Thomas into eighth place with 614 rebounds and moved into a tie for eighth place with former Lady Lions Nakeya Downing and Lindsey Prewitt with 64 blocked shots.
 
HBU was led by junior forward Shanice Steenholdt, who finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds. Junior forward Erin McGarrachan (16 points), sophomore guard Rachel Arthur (13 points) and junior guard Tayler Jefferson (11 points) joined Steenholdt in double figures. Jefferson narrowly missed a double-double with a game-high nine assists.
 
A layup by Steenholdt gave the Huskies a commanding 58-44 lead with 6:40 left in the second half. Southeastern would not give up, however, methodically chipping into the HBU advantage. With 15 seconds left, Styles netted a three to cut the lead to 63-62.
 
Arthur made one of two free throws to push the lead to 64-62. On the final possession of regulation, Gibson left a shot short, battled for the offensive rebound and netted the put back with 0.5 seconds left on the clock to force overtime.
 
In the first overtime period, neither team would lead my more than four points. With 15 seconds left, Steenholdt leaked out free for a layup to put HBU up, 76-74. On the final possession, Styles exploded into the lane and drew a foul with 1.4 seconds remaining. Styles drained both free throws to send the game to a second overtime.
 
Southeastern seemingly took control of the game midway through the second overtime, as Miller knocked down a jumper to give the Lady Lions an 83-78 lead with 2:54 remaining. However, HBU scored the next six points and a McGarrachan jumper put the Huskies on top, 84-83, with 32 seconds remaining.
 
On Southeastern's last possession saw Styles miss a short shot from the lane. However, Pool grabbed the rebound and got it right back to Styles. This time, the Savannah, Ga. native hit a short floater from about six feet out to give Southeastern the lead with 1.6 seconds left. On the final try for HBU, Hernandez grabbed Steenholdt's inbound pass to secure the victory.
 
Southeastern will return home to host UNO on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. in the University Center. Thursday's game will be the NCAA Pack the House game. Students will receive a free t-shirt and free food while available.
 
Miller will be the Spotlight Player of the Game and the first 100 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Gonzales native courtesy of the Southeastern PRIDE. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net, where LionVision subscribers can also access a live video stream.