Huntingdon outlasts MUW in overtime

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Hannah Parks and Alex Lowery combined to score Huntingdon's final 10 points in overtime as the women's basketball team got by the Mississippi University for Women 89-83 on Tuesday.

In an overtime period that featured six lead changes, the Lady Hawks took the lead for good with 2:03 remaining when Parks hit her first of back-to-back 3-pointers.

Following a MUW basket, Lowery scored to make it 87-81 with 32 seconds remaining. MUW pulled within four points, 87-83, in the final 10 seconds before Lowery sank two free throws to close out the game.

A close game from the start, Huntingdon took a 32-31 lead into halftime before building a 10-point lead in the third quarter. But the Owls rallied and took the lead in the fourth quarter.

Ry Whetstone powered Huntingdon in the final 5:16 of the fourth quarter. The freshman scored 12 straight points before Lowery made a pair of free throws to put Huntingdon ahead 69-68 with 17 seconds left in regulation.

MUW tied the game, hitting 1-of-2 free throws, with three seconds left to force overtime.

T.I. Duncan led Huntingdon with 26 points and seven rebounds. Whetstone recorded her second collegiate double-double, scoring a season-high 20 points and matching her season-high with 11 rebounds.

Parks, who made three 3-pointers in overtime and was 6-for-9 from 3-point range for the game, finished with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. Lowery finished with 13 points and four assists and Kassidy Crawford had a team-high seven assists.

Records: Huntingdon (13-4); Mississippi University for Women (11-5)           

Coming Up: Huntingdon will host Covenant on Saturday at 4 p.m. Saturday will also be Huntingdon College Basketball Alumni Day with a special recognition for former head coach Buzz Phillips.