RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's basketball team earned a thrilling come-from-behind Skyline victory in overtime over College of Mount Saint Vincent, 52-51, at Peter Jay Sharp Center on Monday evening.

Yeshiva (3-5, 3-4 Skyline) overcame a six-point hole in the fourth quarter, and then rallied from a three-point deficit in the late stages of overtime to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat.

With Yeshiva down 51-50 with just over a minute left in the extra session, junior guard Daniella Bessler received a pass from classmate Shai Rahamim and knocked down a midrange jumper to put the Blue and White in front, 52-51, with 58 seconds left to play in the overtime period. That proved to be the official game-winning shot as YU's defense came up big in the end to prevent the Dolphins (3-4, 0-4 Skyline) from scoring and allowing the Macs to secure the crucial conference victory.

Bessler notched a double-double for the evening with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while forcing four steals. Senior guard Yuval Nitzan had a productive game with 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Rahamim generated 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Senior forward Daniella Rothman netted seven points, snatched 12 boards, delivered three assists, blocked two shots, and collected a steal.

The Maccabees got off to a good start in the game as a triple by Rothman put YU in front, 7-2, with 6:23 to go in the first quarter. Mount Saint Vincent chipped away and pulled to within one, at 9-8. Rookie guard Abigail Koenig disrupted the opposition's momentum by taking a feed from Rothman and converting a layup to increase the Macs' advantage to 11-8, with 1:35 remaining in the period. That would be the score after 10 minutes of play.

YU had a strong second quarter, outscoring CMSV by a 13-5 margin. With 23 ticks left on the clock, a pair of free throws by Bessler allowed the Macs to equal their largest lead of the game, at 24-11. The Dolphins finished the first half on a positive note as junior guard Kayla Hanley buried a bucket in the paint just as the buzzer sounded to cut YU's lead to 11 at the intermission.

Mount Saint Vincent surged in the third quarter, outscoring Yeshiva 23-8 during the frame to take a 36-32 benefit heading into the final regulation period.

In the fourth quarter, a pair of free throws by Mount Saint Vincent senior guard Amber Been padded the Dolphins' cushion to 41-35 with 3:20 left to play. Yeshiva would not go down without a fight, as Nitzan kicked the ball out to Rahamim, who drained a key triple that sliced YU's deficit in half, at 41-38, with 2:57 to go. In the blink of an eye, Nitzan forced a steal on the next possession, sprinted down the court, and connected on a fast-break layup to pull YU to within one, at 41-40.

One minute later, Yeshiva had the ball with the same score. Nitzan successfully executed a layup, while being bumped, to give the Macs a 42-41 advantage with just 1:24 left to play. She added the free throw to extend the Macs' advantage to two.

Yeshiva's defense forced another stop and Rothman was fouled. She hit both shots from the charity stripe to give YU a two-possession lead, at 45-41, with 1:11 to go. Mount Saint Vincent hit two free throws in a span of two possessions to cut YU's advantage to 45-43 with 19 ticks left on the clock. Yeshiva tried to dribble the ball up, but senior Kira Villegas forced a steal for Mount Saint Vincent and went all the way to the basket to convert the game-tying layup with just seven seconds remaining. Yeshiva could not score on the final possession of regulation and overtime was needed.

After Yeshiva scored the first two points in the extra session, courtesy of free throws from Nitzan, Mount Saint Vincent scored the next five points to take a 50-47 benefit with 2:52 left to play.

Yeshiva once again chipped away as a layup by Nitzan shrunk YU's deficit to one. Been added a free throw to put the Dolphins up, 51-49, with 1:44 to go.

A few possessions later, YU had the ball and Bessler drew a foul. She made the first free throw to cut CMSV's lead to one, at 51-50, with 1:03 left to play. She missed the second free throw but managed to get to the loose ball and then tip it to Rahamim. With one minute to go, Rahamim kicked it back out to Bessler who drilled the ball into the basket from midrange with just 58 seconds left to give Yeshiva the lead, 52-51.

Mount Saint Vincent had the ball. Hanley tried to go for the layup, but it was blocked by freshman forward Mia Denti. Hanley got the rebound and then tried a jumper, but then it was Nitzan's turn to block a shot in crunch time. Rahamim secured the rebound for YU.

CMSV was able to get the ball back, down by one, with seven ticks left on the clock and one more opportunity to win the game. However, the shot was missed, the buzzer sounded, and Yeshiva earned a remarkable overtime victory in conference play, 52-51.

For the Maccabees, Koenig tallied four points and just as many rebounds. Senior forward Gabrielle Kupferman scored four points and snatched six boards.

For the Dolphins, Villegas and Been each produced double-doubles, with the former generating 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the latter producing 13 points and 15 caroms.

Yeshiva will continue Skyline play on Thursday at St. Joseph's University Brooklyn. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.