LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Trailing late in the second half, the Covenant women's basketball team rallied to send the game into overtime and claimed an upset victory over GSAC leader Salem 71-70 on Tuesday night.
After going over three years between overtime games, it is the second straight overtime game for the Lady Scots. Covenant lost in overtime to Spelman on Saturday.
Salem came into the contest in a three-way tie for first place in the GSAC with Agnes Scott and Huntingdon.
Covenant (8-8, 2-4 GSAC) trailed 56-48 with 3:43 left in regulation after a 3-pointer from Salem's Satavia Taylor. Three straight 3-pointers from Haley Soles and a driving layup from Kiaira Cooper capped an 11-2 scoring run to give the Lady Scots a 59-58 lead with 1:20 remaining.
Salem would retake the lead on a Shamaz Denerson layup with 1:10 left and the Spirits' Bria Patterson made one of two free-throws with 20 seconds left to give the visitors a 61-59 lead. On Covenant's next possession, Cooper again took the ball strong to the hoop and converted a layup to tie the score at 61 with five seconds left. Salem had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but Patterson's short jumper fell short and the game was sent to overtime.
Both teams went back and forth in the extra period, until under a minute remained.
With the score tied at 67, Covenant's Liz Dougherty spun past a defender and lofted a layup high off the glass that fell through the net - plus a foul - sending the small but boisterous crowd into a frenzy as the Lady Scots took a 69-67 lead. Dougherty would miss the free-throw, but Alexis Storteboom was there for the offensive rebound. Storteboom sank a pair of free-throws to put Covenant up 71-67 and secure the win.
Storteboom recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, none bigger than the final one. Soles added 15 points and Cooper poured in 10 points and four steals. Ruth Gibson tallied nine points, four assists, and six rebounds, while Jessica Chittenden chipped in seven points and six rebounds.
Salem (11-9, 4-2 GSAC) received a game-high 28 points from Taylor on 11-of-28 shooting. Denerson (10 points and 14 rebounds) and Quntashea Lewis (10 points and 10 rebounds) each had double-doubles for the Spirits.
The Lady Scots managed just 37.9 percent (25-66) shooting, while the Spirits also struggled as they connected on 36.5 percent (23-63) of their shots. Covenant held a slight 47-46 rebounding edge and had 16 second-chance points on the night.
Covenant looks to keep its momentum going as they take on Toccoa Falls at home on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
