FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team hosted the Pacers of USC Aiken tonight in regional action. The Pacers jumped ahead early, taking a 39-26 lead into the break. The Lions roared back in the third quarter to close the gap, knotting the game at 60-60 late in the 4^th to force OT. The Lions pulled ahead in overtime, and Naomi Roberts iced the game with a late three to give the Lions the 71-68 win. With the win, the Lions improve to 2-1 on the season. 

The Pacers got off to a hot start in the first quarter, taking an early 11-4 lead. Naomi Roberts picked up some points in the paint to cut the Pacers lead to 11-6 but the Pacers continued to gain momentum to take an 18-8 lead to end the quarter. The Lions shot 4-12 from the field in the quarter (33%)

USC Aiken carried their momentum into the second quarter, pushing their lead to 10 with 7:52 to play in the quarter, 23-13. The Pacers stayed hot from beyond the arc, shooting 50% from three to push their lead up to 20, 37-17 with 3:22 to play in the half. At the break, the Pacers led the Lions, 39-26. In the quarter, Emmanuel's Carmen Cabello-Rivera picked up 8 points, including two three-pointers to lead the Lions in the 2^nd.

Following the half, Naomi Roberts helped the Lions chip away at the Pacer's lead with a 5-0 scoring run to put the Lions back within 8 points, 40-32 with 6:57 to play in the quarter. Threes by Roberts and Cabello-Rivera and a jumper by Hannah Harris cut the Pacer's lead to 2 points with 59 seconds to play in the quarter, 49-47. A jumper by Roberts closed out the quarter with the Lions trailing, 52-49. The Lions shot 50% from the field in the half (8-16) and 3-5 from beyond the arc. 

Early in the fourth quarter, the Pacers pushed their lead back up to 7 but consecutive threes by Cabello-Rivera and a jumper by Kate Jackson brought the Lions within 4 points, 58-54 with 5:37 to go. Cabello-Rivera stayed hot from beyond the arc, connecting twice more to tie the game at 60-60 with 2:12 to play to send the game to overtime. 

In overtime, the Lions continued to gain momentum. The Pacers took the lead early, 63-60, but the Lions responded quickly with a layup and free throws by Roberts to give the Lions a 64-63 lead. A free throw by Kate Jackson and jumper by Teasley pushed the Lions lead to 67-64 with 1:16 to play. The Pacers kept things close, cutting the Lions lead to a point late, but Naomi Roberts had the final say, icing the game from the foul line to give the Lions the game, 71-68.

Naomi Roberts led the way for the Lions with 32 points on the night. Carmen Cabello-Rivera added 20 points, going 6-8 from three-point range, leading the team in rebounds with 6. Hannah Harris led the team in assists with 6 on the night. 

Next up, the Lions will host Converse University in conference play on Saturday at 2PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.