East Carolina University
9-15, 3-9
SMU
11-12, 6-6
East Carolina Suffers 74-67 Overtime Heartbreak at SMU
February 09, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score 
DALLAS - The East Carolina women's basketball team allowed a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of regulation before suffering a 74-67 overtime loss at SMU in American Athletic Conference action Tuesday evening at Moody Coliseum.
Marina Laramie led the Pirates with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Jada Payne added 15 points and nine boards and DeVaughn Gray chipped in 13 points. Payne passed Jasmine Young (2005-09) for the No. 4 spot on ECU's all-time scoring list and now has 1,595 points in a Pirate uniform.
Alicia Froling led four Mustangs in double-digit scoring with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while McKenzie Adams chipped in 19 points and nine boards. Stephanie Collins added 14 points and Gabrielle Wilkins had 10.
Both sides struggled shooting from the field in the opening quarter, as East Carolina (9-15, 3-9 AAC) found open looks, but shot just 4-for-12 (.333) in the period and committed five turnovers. The Mustangs tried to get their perimeter game going, but made just one of six attempts from the outside, however, they were able to go 5-for-8 from the free throw line to build a 12-9 lead after the first 10 minutes of action. The nine points are the fewest scored by ECU in the first quarter this season.
SMU (11-12, 6-6 AAC) continued to clamp down defensively, holding ECU to just two points between the 5:26 mark of the first period and the 5:50 mark of the second. The Pirates also found themselves in some serious foul trouble, as Laramie, I'Tiana Taylor and Khadidja Toure each registered three during the second quarter.
The Ponies built a 22-11 lead with 5:18 to go in the half, forcing ECU into calling a timeout, but it proved to be just what the purple and gold needed to get going. East Carolina began doubling down in its post defense, generating stops and turnovers, while creating instant offense at the other end which included a pair of threes by Laramie to cut the close the first half on a 17-8 run to cut the deficit to just two, 30-28, at the intermission.
The Pirates shot 10-for-27 (.370) from the field, 2-for-7 (.286) beyond the three-point line and 6-for-7 (.857) at the foul stripe in the first half, while the Mustangs shot 10-for-26 (.385) on the floor, 1-for-11 (.091) from deep and 9-for-15 (.600) at the free throw line.
ECU came within one point, 32-31, just under three minutes into the second half, but SMU was able to extend its lead back to double digits, 46-36, over the subsequent five minutes as the Pirates called another timeout with 2:46 to play. Froling (10 points) and Adams (nine points) were responsible for all 19 of the Mustangs' points in the third quarter.
East Carolina did not back down however and was able to cut the Ponies' lead to just four, 49-45, after Payne scored four-straight points to close the third quarter.
The Pirates finally broke through in the fourth quarter, earning their first lead of game, 54-53, on free throws by Payne with 6:02 remaining, as those two points also moved her into sole possession of fourth place on the program's scoring chart. Laramie turned into a go-to option for a large portion of the period, scoring nine points in fourth quarter alone before fouling out with 1:55 left.
ECU led by as many as five points, 62-57, with 2:22 remaining in regulation, but SMU cut it to just a pair with three-consecutive points down to the 1:07 mark. An intentional foul on Taylor with 21 seconds remaining in regulation gave East Carolina a chance to make it a two-possession game, but both free throws were off the mark.
After several possessions and the Mustangs playing the foul game, Alexandra Frazier stepped to the free throw line and made one of two free throws to put the Pirates in front, 63-60, with 17 seconds to go. SMU had a final chance to extend the game, as Adams missed a three with four seconds to go before Morgan Bolton collected the offensive rebound, ran out to the right wing and sunk a desperation, turnaround three-pointer as time expired to the send game to overtime with the score tied, 63-all.
East Carolina would go cold from field in the five-minute overtime, hitting just one of six shot attempts, as the Mustangs went 7-for-8 at the free throw line to assist in outscoring ECU, 11-4, in the period and seal the seven-point victory.
The Pirates finished the night 23-for-66 (.348) from the field, 3-for-15 (.200) beyond the perimeter and 18-for-28 (.643) at the free throw line, while SMU shot 24-for-60 (.400) overall, 5-for-18 (.278) at the three-point line and 21-for-29 (.724) at the foul stripe.
The Mustangs owned a 47-40 rebounding advantage, while scoring in the paint was knotted at 30 points apiece. ECU owned an 18-10 scoring margin off turnovers.
East Carolina will return home to host Memphis on Saturday, Feb. 13 in its Play4Kay Pink Game. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m., at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum.
