LOCK HAVEN, Pa. –  The Lock Haven University women's basketball team (10-15, 7-14 PSAC) had its back against the wall with a must win scenario and LHU didn't back down as The Haven defeated local-rival and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East foe Mansfield University (5-20, 3-18 PSAC), 69-61 in a thrilling OT game.
 
With the win tonight, Lock Haven remains in the PSAC playoff race. The Bald Eagles are now 10-15 overall and 7-14 in PSAC play, and after tonight's win, LHU sits in a tie for fifth in the PSAC East standings. Lock Haven is tied with Millersville, who lost tonight, and holds an identical 7-14 PSAC record.
 
Lock Haven will play at Bloomsburg on Saturday and the Huskies (8-13) are one game ahead of both Lock Haven and Millersville. On January 25, Bloomsburg beat Lock Haven 62-54.
 
During the regular season, Lock Haven and Millersville split. Millersville heads to Cheyney Saturday.
 
Kayla Henderson (Philadelphia, Pa./Lackawanna College) led the Bald Eagles with a career-high 23 points shooting 10-16 from the field.
 
In the third quarter it was a back-and-forth affair that saw three lead changes and the score tied on five different occasions.
 
LHU took its first lead since a 5-4 lead early in the first quarter with a Lysa Mealing (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) free throw that put the Bald Eagles up 39-38 with 1:56 left in the third.
 
The fourth quarter was once again a thrilling quarter that saw The Haven and Mountaineers trading baskets. With 3:09 left in the game Henderson hit a huge layup that tied the game at 48. Annie Dombrowski (Altoon, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) then stepped up to the line and made it a 49-48 game with 1:22 left.
 
Mansfield was not going to let up and Bella Ricci hit two clutch shots with under 12 seconds left to tie the game. Madison McHale (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) then had a good look as time expired that saw the ball hit of the back board and then front of rim.
 
The overtime quarter was all LHU as McHale had seven points and the Bald Eagles pulled away.
 
Mealing finished the game with 13 points, eight rebounds and dished out four assists.
 
Freshman Maimuna Kenneh (Coatesville, Pa./Collegium Charter) was also huge in the win as she scored nine points and brought down nine rebounds.
 
McHale finished with 11 points.
 
The Bald Eagles are set for a must-win game at Bloomsburg University on Saturday, February 25 at 3 p.m.