LANCASTER, Pa. – Junior Alyssa Isler (New Hope, Pa./New Hope-Solebury) scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Gettysburg College women's basketball past Franklin & Marshall College 60-55 in overtime inside Mayser Gym Thursday night.
Gettysburg (4-3, 3-1 CC) out-scored Franklin & Marshall (3-5, 1-4 CC) 11-6 in the extra session en route to its third consecutive win. Isler finished 8-of-14 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line in topping her previous personal best scoring effort by one point. Junior Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) posted eight points, seven rebounds, and a career-high seven assists, while freshman Jessica Porter (Narberth, Pa./Lower Merion) tallied eight points to go with season highs in rebounds (11) and steals (5).
Alexa Barbush led the Diplomats with 20 points, while Elizabeth Snyder added eight points, 11 boards, and four assists.
The lead changed only three times in the contest with the hosts striking out to a 5-2 advantage following a three-pointer by Elizabeth Snyder less than two minutes into the game. Gettysburg would take the lead for the first time at 6-5 following back-to-back buckets by freshman Emily Duggan (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) and junior Rianna Doane (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin).
Gettysburg would not trail again in the game until the start of the overtime period. The lead would grow to a game-high nine in the first half with a lay-up by Murphy making it 17-8 with 7:57 on the clock.
Franklin & Marshall would slice the halftime deficit to three at 27-24 with the final three points of the period.
Isler would spot the Bullets a 36-28 lead with an old-fashioned three-point play early in the second period, but the Diplomats refused to go away, netting the next seven points to pull to one point with just over 12 minutes remaining.
The margin remained within one possession for most of the remaining time. Isler accounted for Gettysburg's final points in regulation with a pair of free throws making it 49-45 with 1:48 left. Barbush cut the margin in half after knocking down a pair of free throws with just over a minute remaining. Franklin & Marshall came up the equalizer on Gettysburg's next possession as Emma Lisle stepped in front of the in-bounds pass and raced to the end of the court for the lay-in to tie the game with only 55 seconds left to play.
Both teams were unable to convert in the final seconds with Isler missing a three-pointer and Snyder falling short on a lay-up with four seconds left. Junior Cori Younghans (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) was called for an offensive fall on a drive to the hoop as time expired.
Franklin & Marshall grabbed just its second lead of the game at the start of the overtime session as Barbush knocked down a jumper six seconds in. Gettysburg quickly countered as sophomore Jenna Swope (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) converted in the paint to make it 51-all.
The Bullets defense forced the Diplomats into one of the team's 27 turnovers in the game on the next possession as Porter came up with the steal and converted on the opposite end following a pass by Murphy.
Leading 54-53 with 1:45 to play, Gettysburg went on a six-point spurt to help seal the decision. Murphy converted a jumper after another steal and followed up with a pair of free throws. Isler made it 60-53 by knocking down both of her attempts from the charity stripe with just 10 seconds left.
Gettysburg's defense held an opponent below 30 percent shooting for the fourth consecutive game as F&M finished just 19-for-64 (29.7 percent) from the floor. The Diplomats out-rebounded the visitors 49-43, but the Bullets turned in 24 points off turnovers.
Duggan finished with seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks for Gettysburg. Doane added six points and three steals, while junior Katie Earley (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) added six points on a pair of three pointers. Swope finished with nine boards off the bench.
Gettysburg returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 8, with a match up with undefeated Swarthmore College (6-0, 3-0 CC) at 1 p.m.