Amy McNear hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation and a game-winning layup with 0.7 seconds left in overtime as Western Kentucky beat the South Alabama Lady Jaguars 69-67 in overtime in Sun Belt Conference play.
Jessica Starling scored a career-high 27 points for South Alabama, and Ra’Shawna Sippio had 10 points and 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season and her eighth in nine games. The loss left the Lady Jaguars at 16-8 overall and 7-6 in the Sun Belt.
Fast Start, Then a Drought
South Alabama scored the game’s first seven points and held Western Kentucky scoreless for the first five minutes as the Hilltoppers missed their first nine shots. The Lady Jaguars built a 19-11 lead before Western Kentucky closed the first half with an 11-0 run, during which South Alabama missed seven straight shots. The Hilltoppers led 22-19 at halftime.
Back-and-Forth Second Half
Western Kentucky scored on its first possession of the second half to lead by five. South Alabama answered with a 16-2 run over the next four minutes, beginning with 11 straight points, to take its largest lead at 35-26.
The Lady Jaguars led 44-37 near the midpoint of the half before Western Kentucky scored seven straight points to tie the game. The Hilltoppers went ahead 52-48 with less than five minutes remaining, but South Alabama regained the lead less than a minute later.
Leading 57-56 after a timeout, South Alabama scored on an uncontested layup by Sippio off a pass from Shakira Nettles. After a defensive stop, Morriah Smith was fouled with seven seconds left and went to the line for a one-and-one but missed the front end.
Western Kentucky rebounded and got the ball to McNear, who hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 0.4 seconds left to tie the game at 59 and force overtime.
Overtime
Western Kentucky led 66-62 with 32 seconds left in overtime when Starling hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one. South Alabama called a 30-second timeout with 13 seconds remaining. Vontrice Dennis then fouled Arnika Brown, who missed the first free throw and made the second to make it 67-65 with 12 seconds left.
Freshman Tashly Gaines, who checked in for Dennis, was fouled with 6.7 seconds left and made both free throws to tie the game at 67. McNear took the inbounds pass, drove the length of the court and scored with 0.7 seconds remaining.
Individual Leaders
Starling made 9 of 19 shots, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range, and both of her free throws.
McNear led Western Kentucky with 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting, going 7-of-8 at the free-throw line and making her only 3-point attempt. Brown had 19 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, and Kenzie Rich added 13 points.
By the Numbers
South Alabama shot 24-of-64 from the field, 9-of-25 from 3-point range and 10-of-15 at the free-throw line. Western Kentucky shot 19-of-65 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range but went 28-of-34 from the line, attempting 19 more free throws than the Lady Jaguars.
Western Kentucky also outscored South Alabama 19-7 in points off turnovers and 19-9 in second-chance points.
Up Next
South Alabama hosts Florida International on Wednesday at the Mitchell Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
