GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Junior Julie McGrory (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) posted a career-high 25 points, including nailing the game-tying shots to force overtime and double overtime as Gettysburg College slipped past Dickinson College 71-63 in double overtime inside Bream Gym on Wednesday night.
Gettysburg (14-4, 9-4 CC) had to earn its fifth-straight win by playing its first double-overtime affair since a 76-74 win over Lebanon Valley College on Jan. 25, 1996. It was also the Bullets' first overtime affair since falling 71-68 to Babson College in the NCAA Division III Tournament last season.
McGrory tallied 14 of her 25 points in the game's final 13:35, finishing 10-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. She also grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Sophomore Alyssa Oursler (Middletown, Md./Middletown) added 14 points and five blocks, while freshman Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) put up 10 points and eight rebounds.
Gettysburg appeared to have the inside edge early in the game, jumping out to a 19-9 lead on a Murphy lay-in at 8:28. Dickinson (7-10, 5-8 CC) never went away, however, netting 14 of the next 18 points to tie the game with one minute before the half. McGrory knocked down a jumper in the final minute to give the hosts a two-point lead at the break.
A back-and-forth second half ensued as the Red Devils jumped ahead by four (33-29) on a Taylor Miller fast-break bucket at 15:20, only to see the Bullets come right back to take a four-point lead (40-36) on a Murphy field goal at 7:49. Dickinson answered as Miller capitalized on an old-fashioned three-point play on its next possession followed by a lay-up by Alesha Sisco and a three-pointer by Annie O'Donnell to put the visitors in front 44-40.
Dickinson took its largest lead of the second half at 49-44 when Carole Dempsey knocked down a jumper with 3:52 left to play in regulation. McGrory stepped up following a timeout, hitting a jumper on Gettysburg's next possession. Murphy converted a pair of free throws and McGrory added another bucket to the hosts up one (50-49) with 2:10 on the board.
The Red Devils knocked down three free throws in the final 1:13, the last two by Sisco giving the visitors a 52-50 advantage with 31 seconds remaining. Enter McGrory yet again, saving the day with a runner in the lane to knot the game with 19 seconds left. Sisco managed to get off a shot before the buzzer but it fell short of the rim.
In the first overtime period, Gettysburg struck first with free throws, but Dickinson came back with the next four points highlighted by a three-pointer by O'Donnell to push the lead to 56-54. The bank was open for the Bullets' next attempt as senior Mary Spicer (Floral Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) managed to kiss the glass with a runner in the lane to knot the game. The Red Devils came right back with a lay-up by Dempsey putting the score at 58-56 with 1:23 left.
Gettysburg came up empty on its next possession, eventually turning the ball over along the baseline. However, luck was with the Bullets as freshman Rianna Doane (Glen Mills, Pa./Bayard Rustin) forced a tie-up following the in-bounds pass with possession siding with the hosts. The scene was set again, and McGrory delivered, knocking down another shot to force a second overtime.
The final overtime period was all Orange and Blue as senior Caitlin Moser (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing) converted a lay-up and McGrory followed up with an old-fashioned three-point play. Dickinson was unable to get closer than four points, missing six shots in the period.
Despite a slow start shooting the ball, Gettysburg improved in each period to finish 41.2 percent from the field (28-of-68), including 7-of-11 in the two extra sessions. The Bullets defense also came up big, holding its eighth opponent of the season below 30 percent shooting as Dickinson connected on just 21-of-73 (28.8 percent) of its attempts.
McGrory led Gettysburg in scoring for the fifth time in the last six games, topping her personal best offensive output by four points and grabbing two more boards than her previous best mark. Murphy posted her second-straight outing with double-figure scoring, while Oursler and Moser each ripped down five rebounds.
Dempsey led Dickinson with 19 points. Sisco and Miller each added a dozen points, the former posting eight rebounds, while Dana Walsh grabbed 10 rebounds.
Gettysburg returns to action this Saturday, Jan. 29, at Swarthmore College. Game time is 2 p.m.