NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Lehman College women's basketball team overcame a 10-point second half deficit to defeat the City College of New York, 67-63, in overtime, in CUNY Athletic Conference action on Friday evening. The Lightning have now won four of their last five games. This was a historical win for Eric Harrison, who earned his 250th career victory as the head coach at Lehman College. The next major benchmark for him is 253, which would tie him with CSI's Marguerite Moran for first place on the all-time CUNYAC coaches' wins list.  

Lehman (14-6, 8-4 CUNYAC) was led by junior forward Amani Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton) who scored 19 points and dished out nine assists, which were both game-highs. Classmate Karrin Walker (New York, N.Y./Richard R. Green) also helped spark the Lightning's comeback with 17 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. Junior guard Jennifer Navarro (Jamaica, N.Y./Grover Cleveland) added 15 points.

The Lightning got off to a sluggish start and trailed by as many as 13 in the opening half, but were able to shrink CCNY's (4-16, 2-10 CUNYAC) lead to 32-23 going into halftime. In the second half, Lehman trailed 57-49, with just 3:28 remaining in regulation. The Lightning answered by going on a 7-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back baskets from Walker, including a three-pointer, and capped off by a layup from junior forward Yarmese Jones (Astoria, N.Y./William C. Bryant), to pull Lehman within one, with 1:29 left. 

The Beavers were able to extend their lead to 59-56, but Lightbourne countered with a clutch three-point basket to tie the game at 59, with just 45 seconds left on the clock. Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of regulation and the game would head to overtime.

In the extra session, Navarro opened the scoring by nailing a jump shot to put Lehman up, 61-59, in the opening minute. After the Beavers tied the game at 61, Walker attacked the basket and laid the ball up and in, to help the Lightning regain the lead, with just over two minutes remaining. 

With 30 seconds left to play in overtime, Lehman was hanging on to a 65-63 lead. CCNY had a chance to jump out in front, but Liz Durchhalter missed the go-ahead three-pointer and junior forward Luisayra Madrigal (Bronx, N.Y./Monsignor Scanlan) was able to grab the rebound. Navarro successfully hit a pair of free throws to ice the game, and Lehman went on to win 67-63.

For the game, Jones scored eight points with eight rebounds, while Madrigal produced six points and eleven boards.

Lehman will return to the APEX Main Gym, against Stevens Tech, in its final non-conference contest of the year, on Tuesday. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. 

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