From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's basketball team won its final home game of the 2017-18 season, defeating Washington University in St. Louis 82-79 in overtime on Sunday, February 11, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan.
Trailing 79-78, Olivia Linebarger's three-point play (layup and foul shot) with 32 seconds left in the overtime gave NYU (13-9, 6-5) an 81-79 lead. Kayla Patterson was fouled with 15 seconds left and made one of two free throws.
The Bears (16-6, 7-4) still had a chance to tie, but Becca Clark-Callender missed an open three right before the final buzzer as the Violets hung on for the win.
"Our perseverance and resiliency is something that this team has always shown me during the six years I have been coaching here," said Head Coach Lauren Hall-Gregory.
The victory didn't seem likely, as NYU trailed by 14 in the fourth quarter.
However, a layup by Patterson with 8:15 remaining began the comeback. On the play, Kaitlyn Read recorded her fourth assist of the game and the 386th of her illustrious career, setting the Violets' all-time record.
The momentum continued and NYU pulled within four points, 64-60, on Read's steal and layup with 2:04 remaining. She recorded a block on the next possession, and Patterson followed with a layup to bring NYU within two at 1:15.
The Bears' Madeline Homoly hit a pair of free throws with 48 seconds remaining before Read hit a three-pointer with 40 seconds left to pull NYU within one, 66-65.
Clark-Callender hit 1-of-2 free throws for Washington with 36 ticks remaining and Rachel Sondag made two more with 23 left to put Washington back up by four, 69-65.
Read then hit another three with 13 seconds left to pull the Violets within 69-68.
Homoly was fouled again with 11 ticks left and hit the second of her two free throws.
Read's layup with 3.5 seconds left sent the game into overtime, 70-70. She finished with a game-high 25 points.
"Kaitlyn did what she does. She's a great player," Hall-Gregory said. "For four-plus years she's been one of the best players in the UAA (University Athletic Association), and she showed that again today."
The Violets fell behind 12-0 in the UAA contest, but cut the deficit to eight points, 18-10, after the first quarter.
The comeback continued into the second quarter as the Violets tied the game 24-24 on Patterson's layup with 4:22 remaining then took their first lead, 32-31, on Read's driving layup with 2:10 left.
The Bears managed only one point the rest of the half as NYU went on to a 36-32 advantage at the break.
However, Washington started the second half on a 7-0 run and outscored NYU 25-9 in the third quarter for a 57-45 advantage heading into the fourth.
The Bears scored the first two points of the final quarter and established a new game-high 14-point lead before the Violet comeback began.
NOTABLES:
- NYU's three graduating seniors: Cassidy Fontana, Patterson, and Mikaela Pyatt were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
- Linebarger scored a career-high 16 points while adding a game-high nine rebounds.
- Patterson finished with a season-high 23 points (9-of-15, FG, 5-of-6 FT), including seven in overtime.
- Read also totaled seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.
- Homoly led four Bears in double figures with 20 points.