MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In a game that featured 12 lead changes and needed an extra five minutes to decide, Huntingdon Women's Basketball outlasted Belhaven 79-78 in overtime Tuesday afternoon inside Roland Arena, sealing the win on a game-winning free throw by Abby Byrd with one second remaining.
First Quarter
The opening quarter lived up to the back-and-forth nature that would define the afternoon, as neither side was able to create early separation. Makayla Ford and Deshauna Foote combined to score Huntingdon's first eight points, but each Hawks basket was met with an answer from Belhaven. A late basket in the final minute allowed the Hawks to carry a slim advantage into the second, setting the stage for a tightly contested contest.
Second Quarter
Momentum continued to swing in the second period, with Belhaven briefly taking its first lead of the afternoon midway through the quarter. Charity Shaw helped steady the Hawks with a pair of baskets in the paint, while Kennedi McCray controlled the glass on both ends to limit second-chance opportunities. Despite several lead changes, neither team managed more than a one-possession cushion, and Huntingdon headed into the break locked in a close contest.
Third Quarter
Huntingdon found its rhythm offensively coming out of halftime, leaning on Foote's playmaking and Ford's perimeter shooting to string together its strongest stretch of the game. A 7-2 run midway through the quarter pushed the Hawks ahead and briefly gave them breathing room, but Belhaven once again responded late, trimming the deficit before the end of the period to keep the game within reach heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The final quarter turned into a possession-by-possession battle. Belhaven opened the period with a run to regain the lead before Ford and Shaw answered to swing momentum back toward the Hawks. With under a minute remaining, Belhaven knocked down a basket to even the score at 68-68, and despite chances on both ends in the closing seconds, the game headed to overtime.
Overtime
Belhaven struck first in the extra period, but Huntingdon answered quickly as Shaw finished inside and McCray converted at the line to keep things level. Ford's layup with four seconds remaining tied the game at 78-78, but the decisive moment came moments later. After Belhaven missed at the free-throw line, Byrd secured the rebound and was fouled with one second left. She calmly stepped to the stripe and knocked down the first free throw, lifting the Hawks to a 79-78 overtime victory.
Hawk Top Performers
Huntingdon will continue conference play later this week as the Hawks host Asbury University on Friday, February 6th. Tip-off is set for 4:00 PM CT.