LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University women's basketball team (7-9, 4-8 PSAC) led for most of the game and pushed Shippensburg University to the brink, but eventually fell in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East overtime thriller tonight at Thomas Fieldhouse, 67-63.
 
Shippensburg (14-2, 10-2 PSAC) entered the game in first place in the PSAC East standings, but the Bald Eagles were not intimidated and came out of the gates firing on all cylinders.
 
LHU held a 17-10 lead after the first period and The Haven led by eight, 31-23 at the halftime break.
 
Lock Haven's halftime lead came thanks to a 10-point effort from J.J. Hilliard (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty). Lysa Mealing (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) took control of the glass early and nine of her rebounds came in the first half. LHU shot 40 percent from the field and 42 percent (3 for 7) from 3-point range in the first half.
 
The Raiders would not go away however and clawed their way back into it and LHU found itself trailing for the first time in the game 58-57 with just 1:15 to play in regulation.
 
Mealing would eventually tie the game with a free throw with 34 seconds to play, and despite getting a chance at a last-second buzzer-beater, The Haven was unable to score.
 
Shippensburg led for much of the overtime period and the Bald Eagles couldn't capitalize in the final seconds.
 
Hilliard led LHU with 16 points on the night
 
Emily James (Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield) scored a career-high 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field.
 
Mackenzie Livingston (Blairsville, Pa./IUP) chipped in with 10 points and Rachael McDaniel (Plainfield, N.J./California (Pa.) Univ.) added seven.
 
Mealing, the PSAC's leading rebounder finished with 16 tonight.
 
LHU hits the court again on Saturday, January 16 at Bloomsburg University (1 p.m.).