Bethune-Cookman Rallies From 15 Down To Beat Howard In O.Tl

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ashanti Hunt posted a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double and Emily Williams scored all her 13 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Bethune-Cookman rallied for a 59-55 overtime victory over Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday at Trinity Washington University.

Howard (4-11 overall, 0-2 MEAC) led 47-32 with 9:02 remaining, but Williams scored 11 of the 19 Lady Wildcats' fourth quarter point as they forced overtime with a Chasimmie Brown layup that made it 51-51 with 31 seconds remaining.

Hunt, Angel Golden and Brown scored the first six points of overtime to give Bethune-Cookman a 57-51 lead. Howard closed to 57-55 on two Sarah Edmond free throws with 22 seconds left, but Williams iced the game with two free throws with 16 seconds left.

Hunt, a Washington, D.C. product, also had five assists and five steals as the Lady Wildcats (10-4, 2-0) extended their MEAC regular season winning streak to 12 and their MEAC road winning streak to 11.

BOX SCORE

Brown had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Golden scored 12.

Edmond led Howard with 24.

Bethune-Cookman travels to Maryland-Eastern Shore Monday.

HEAD COACH VANESSA BLAIR-LEWIS

"Any way you get the win is big. For our team to fight back and get the win after not having the best first three quarters makes it even more special."

"Seeing veterans refuse to lose was huge."

"We started out tough with all our point guards in foul trouble. It was tough to get into a rhythm and our post players never found a stroke.Emily came and settled the team down."

"Leadership is what makes you a veteran. Ashanti and Emily showed it."

"We have to change so we're not in this position. Hats off to Howard --They played hard and believed they could win and we gave them every reason to believe that."

Ashanti Hunt

"If Emily doesn't have that fourth quarter, we lose. She came out with a spark and that energy was contagious. We had to catch on."

"I had to put a team on my back and Emily came in and did the same. We have to cut down on the turnovers."
Emily Williams

"I didn't want to lose. Getting into a rhythm reminded me that I got this and I had to keep shooting."

"The game's never over. We have to keep fighting from beginning to end."

NOTES
1. This was B-CU's first OT win since a 66-60 2OT decision at North Carolina Central on 2/8/14
2. The Lady Wildcats forced 29 Howard turnovers -- a season-high for an opponent -- but also committed 25, their second highest total of the year
3. Williams was 3-5 from the field and 3-3 from the line; She single-handedly cut Howard's 47-32 lead to 47-43.
4. This was Hunt's third double-double of the season. Her 5 steals were a season high.
5. Hunt had a huge following in her hometown. How many? "A lot," she said.
6. Brown reached double figures for the first time in five games.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION