AMHERST, N.Y. – Sophomore Sarah Saba (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) scored 21 points and junior Leah McDonell (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O'Hara) added 12 points, 16 rebounds and five assists to lead the Daemen College women's basketball team to a 71-67 overtime victory over Dowling College here tonight. Daemen improved to 5-13 overall and 3-9 in the East Coast Conference, while Dowling dropped to 2-17 overall and 2-11 in the league.

Saba connected on 9-of-18 shots and scored 20 or more points for the fifth time this season. McDonell grabbed seven offensive rebounds and came one rebound shy of equaling her career-high for rebounds in a game. Sophomore Liz Miles (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) turned in a strong effort off the bench for the Wildcats, as she contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. Senior Raeann Stilwell (Cheektowaga, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, while junior Natalie Galus (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) chipped in eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Sophomore Taylor Heinold (Hamburg, N.Y./Immaculata) contributed seven points and five boards in 16 minutes off the bench.

Senior Krstina Surlan (Novi Grad, Bosnia) paced the Golden Lions with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals. Freshman Kayla Hill (Massapequa, N.Y.) and classmate Joka Oyefeso (Staten island, N.Y.) both scored 10 points for the visitors.

A back and forth first quarter featured three ties and nine lead changes, and an early 6-2 lead by Daemen was the largest lead of the quarter. Dowling took a 19-18 lead into the second quarter and a three-pointer by Surlan three minutes into the second quarter gave the Golden Lions a 28-22 lead. Daemen answered with a 9-2 run and regained the lead at 31-30 after Saba drove the lane and scored with 2:52 left before halftime. The teams traded three-pointers after that and Daemen went on to take a 35-33 lead into intermission.

Daemen opened a 40-35 lead early in the third quarter, but Dowling answered with an 8-1 run and took a 43-41 lead following a layup by Oyefeso midway through the quarter. The last five minutes of the quarter featured four ties and the Golden Lions took a 49-47 lead into the fourth quarter.

Dowling opened up a four point lead, 52-48, after senior Kamile Ejerta (Jamaica, N.Y.) drained a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, but Daemen responded with a 13-6 run and opened up a 61-58 lead after senior Samantha Wozniak (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and Heinold hit back-to-back jumpers midway through the quarter. The score remained that was until Surlan made one of two free throws with 50 seconds left in regulation. Dowling tied the game at 61-61 following a steal and layup by junior Kaelyn Ward (East Hampton, N.Y.) with 22 seconds left. A three-point shot by Galus at the other end was off the mark and time expired during a scramble for the rebound.

Daemen scored the first six points of overtime, and after Dowling trimmed the lead to 67-65 Miles canned two free throws with 30 seconds left to make it 69-65. Dowling answered with a jumper by Surlan, and Daemen took a 70-67 lead after Heinold made one of two free throws with 17 seconds left. Dowling's Julia Winnik (New York, N.Y.) was off the mark with a three-pointer with 0:09 seconds left. Ward grabbed the offensive rebound but was unable to convert and Miles was fouled after grabbing the rebound. Miles hit one of two free throws at the other end to secure the win.

Both teams struggled from the field all game. Daemen connected on just 27-of-75 (.360) shots overall and made just 4-of-29 three-pointers. Dowling made just 22-of-69 shots (.319) and was just 4-of-13 from downtown. Daemen collected 22 offensive rebounds and finished with a commanding 62-40 edge in total rebounds.

Daemen returns to action Sunday (Feb. 7) when it hosts the University of Bridgeport in an ECC game at 1 p.m.

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