HENNIKER, N.H. - January 20, 2018 - The Colby-Sawyer women's basketball team dropped an overtime thriller at New England College, 79-77, in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action among in-state rivals. 

NEC improves to to 7-7 overall and 4-5 in the NAC. Colby-Sawyer had its seven-game win streak snapped to fall to 12-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play. The Chargers will host Johnson on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

In a back-and-forth fourth quarter that featured numerous ties, the Chargers had to come from behind multiple times in the final moments of regulation. Trailing 68-65, freshman Mackenzie Buzzell nailed a three-pointer to tie the game with 1:05 left to play. On the ensuing possession, NEC received a layup from Anoushka, Boatswain to take a 70-68 lead. With 17 seconds remaining, Colby-Sawyer senior Alli Barrett was fouled driving to the hoop. She made both free throws to tie the game once again. The Pilgrims then held for the final shot. Rene Hudson made a fall-away baseline jumper as time was running out to put the Pilgrims on top 72-70 with a second showing on the clock. However, the Pilgrims were assessed a technical due to people coming on to the court with time still remaining. Tianna Sugars calmly made both freebies at the other end to send the game into overtime, 72-72. 

The overtime session was played just as closely as regulation. Colby-Sawyer was trailing 77-75 when Emmani Robinson converted a putback layup with 10 seconds on the clock. Unfortunately for the Chargers, Hudson came through again for the Pilgrims by making a layup with two seconds to play. A last chance desperation heave came up short for the Chargers, who fell 79-77. 

Hamilton led Colby-Sawyer with 30 points. Sugars finished with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Robinson added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Buzzell added nine points. 

Hudson led all players with 43 points, which included 10-of-18 from beyond the arc. Boatswain had a double-double of 13 points and a game best 15 rebounds. 

The Pilgrims took an early lead, using a 24-17 first quarter to their advantage. The Pilgrims' largest lead of the game was 11 points, hit with 1:01 left in the first quarter on a jumper by Hudson. 

The Chargers started building their comeback in the second quarter as they held their hosts to just 10 points in the frame while scoring 14 of their own to cut their deficit to three points at half, 34-31.

The Pilgrims shot 43.5 percent in the first quarter but saw their effectiveness drop to 21.4 percent in the second quarter. The Chargers remained consistent, shooting 36.8 percent in the first quarter and 35.7 percent in the second.

Colby-Sawyer scored the first five points of the second half to take the lead and opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but the Pilgrims ended the quarter with a 9-0 run to trail by just three entering the final quarter of regulation.

NEC tied it at 52-52 in the first minute of the fourth quarter on Hudson's 10th three-pointer of the game, but the frame would prove to be a back-and-forth affair as neither team led by more than four points throughout the whole quarter.

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