CARROLLTON, Ga. – Behind 51 combined points from Bella Vinson and Claira McGowan, the Lipscomb University women's basketball team rallied from a 13-point deficit to knock off the University of West Georgia in overtime, 83-73, Saturday afternoon from The Coliseum. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 83, West Georgia 73 (OT)
Location: Carrollton, Ga. (The Coliseum)
Records: Lipscomb (10-5, 3-1), West Georgia (7-8, 1-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb got out to a frigid start, missing its first eight shots before Claira McGowan dented the scoreboard at the 4:55 mark.

While holding the Bisons to 4-of-17 shooting, less than 25%, in the opening quarter, the Wolves dropped 8-of-16 and posted an 18-9 lead at the end of the period. 

The defense stepped up for the Bisons in the second quarter. After the Wolves committed two turnovers in the first period, they totaled five. Lipscomb took advantage, scoring seven of their 15 points in the period.

Ainhoa Cea dropped a second chance floater to cut the deficit to 25-24 with 40 seconds, but a K'Nari Holliday triple on the final possession for UWG made it a 28-24 score in favor of the home team at the break.

West Georgia swelled its largest lead to 13, 44-31, with under five minutes remaining in the third, but a 14-7 run by Lipscomb dropped it back to two possessions, 51-45, after 30 minutes of play. 

The Wolves attempted to pull away with a driving layup by Zuriyah Davis, but a three-point play by Bella Vinson sparked an 8-0 run to even the score at 55. With 6:43 left, after an offensive foul drawn by Vinson, she later scored off the turnover to tie the game up. 

Unfortunately, UWG responded with a driving layup to reclaim the lead, but the Bisons kept battling. McGowan gave Lipscomb its first lead of the day with a layup at the 3:45 mark. 

The teams traded buckets from there, but a layup by McGowan with six seconds remaining forced overtime. 

In the overtime period, Lipscomb scored the first seven straight points thanks to five from McGowan, including a triple to make it 73-66 with 3:18 left. 

UWG made it a 75-71 affair at the free throw line by Sydne Tolbert with 1:48 left in the extra session, but a Molly Heard triple on the next possession iced the game for the Bisons. 

Lipscomb outscored West Georgia 38-22 in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a 17-7 extra session that saw the Bisons score 5-of-8 from the floor and the Wolves to 1-of-7.

KEY STATISTICS
After taking one shot from downtown in 15 first half minutes, Bella Vinson came to life in the second half, scoring all 27 of her points in the third and fourth quarters and overtime. 13 of those points came in the third quarter alone, going 6-of-8. 

Vinson helped the Bisons forced overtime and defeat the Wolves, as she went 10-of-12 in the third and fourth quarters for 23 points. 

Claira McGowan dropped 9-of-17 from the field and totaled 24 points. 

Molly Heard recorded 13 points, three dimes and two steals, while Ainhoa Cea forced five of the team's 10 steals. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb played its first overtime game in one year to the day, last playing an extra period at Central Arkansas on Jan. 11, 2024. 

Since at least the 1999-2000 season, Lipscomb improves to 14-14 all-time in overtime games, and they are 12-12 in games with one extra period. 

Bella Vinson recorded her first 20-point game of the season on Saturday, and the 10th of her career with her 27-point performance. 

Additionally for Vinson, her 11 field goals marked the first time since Jan. 19, 2023 she dropped double figures in the field goals made column, as she matched her career-best. 

Claira McGowan posted back-to-back 20-point games on the weekend road swing and now has eight instances in her career. 

With five more steals against the Wolves on Saturday, Ainhoa Cea has secured six straight games with three or more steals. 

UP NEXT
It will be a quick trip home for the Bisons next week, as they host Jacksonville on Thursday night inside Allen Arena before going back on the road to face Queens next Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina.