The Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team opened play at the Puerto Rico Clasicó in San Juan, Puerto Rico with an overtime win on Wednesday afternoon, defeating Emmanuel College 74-73.

CWRU has now won four of its last five games to improve to 6-4 overall for the season, while Emmanuel fell to 5-7 with the loss.

Four Spartans scored in double figures on Wednesday, led by senior guard Sarah Mitchell who scored eight of her career-high matching 16 points in overtime to help lead the Spartans to the win. She finished the game shooting four-of-seven shooting from the floor and an eight-of-12 from the free throw line to go along with five rebounds and five assists.

Graduate student forward Morgan Micallef returned from injury after missing the last two games to come off the bench to score 16 points and add three steals. Despite being limited to 25 minutes due to foul trouble, senior forward Kayla Characklis finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high four steals. Sophomore guard Emily Plachta added 11 points and six rebounds, while graduate student forward Kate Montgomery ended the contest with nine points and nine rebounds.

The Spartans trailed early in the game but took their first lead of the contest with 5:46 left in the first quarter on a three-point shot by first-year guard Mya Hartjes that put CWRU ahead 7-6. Emmanuel tied the game at 7-7 with a free throw, but a three by Micallef gave the Spartans the lead back and CWRU expanded its advantage to 15-10 by the end of the quarter. CWRU went on to score 12 of the first 14 points of the second quarter, going ahead 27-12 on a layup by Micallef with 3:23 to play in the period, and led by as many as 18 points in the frame before taking a 32-18 lead into halftime.

The Spartans' lead grew to a game-high 19 points early in the third after a jumper by Montgomery put the team ahead 37-18. Emmanuel responded with a 20-5 run that pulled them back within four points with 3:11 left in the third, but CWRU maintained its lead, and a three at the end of the third by first-year guard Jordyn Call gave the Spartans a 52-43 lead after three periods.

Emmanuel scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter and opened the period on a 9-1 run to pull back within a point before Micallef connected on a three to expand the Spartans' lead to 56-52 with 7:15 left to play. Mitchell added four-straight points of her own to cap off a quick 7-0 run for CWRU and put the Spartans ahead 60-52 with 5:40 left in the game. However, Emmanuel managed to tie the game at 64-64 with 1:21 left and despite several opportunities for the Spartans in the closing minute, including a pair of missed free throws with three seconds remaining, the score remained tied at 64 heading into overtime.

CWRU fell behind by a basket early in the overtime period, but Mitchell was able to take control of the game, scoring five straight points for the Spartans to turn a 66-64 deficit into a 69-68 lead with two minutes remaining. CWRU would never trail again in the game, although it remained close throughout the rest of the overtime period. A pair of free throws by Mitchell with 39 seconds left broke a 71-71 tie, and another free throw by Mitchell with 22 seconds remaining extended the Spartans' lead to three, 74-71. Emmanuel hit a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining to cut the CWRU lead to a point, and the Saints had a chance to win the game after forcing a CWRU turnover with five seconds remaining. However, Emmanuel's Paris Atuahene missed a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer and the Spartans were able to hold on for the win.

CWRU was able to force 21 Emmanuel turnovers in the game and finished the contest with a 19-0 edge in points off turnovers.

The Spartans will wrap up play at the Puerto Rico Clasicó on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. ET against Norwich at the Mario Morales Coliseum in San Juan.