Box Score Waltham, MA – In their third meeting of the season, the Adelphi University women's basketball team had the chance to win the series and advance to the NCAA Division II East Region Semifinal. After finishing regulation with a score of 75-75, the Panthers pulled out a win in overtime with a final score of 92-86. The Chargers conclude their season as NCAA Regional quarterfinalists with an 18-10 overall record as Adelphi improves to 23-7 on the year.

Leading the offensive side for Adelphi was senior forward Jessica Kitrys with 28 points, who shot 11-17 from the field. Three other Panthers found themselves in double-figures as Sade Jackson and Kelly Mannix accounted for 14 and 15, respectively. Rookie Calli Balfour completed a double-double, with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.

Balfour registered the first five points of the game for either team, as she sparked a 7-2 run to start the half. New Haven's Briana Bradford tied the game at the 14:21 mark, brought the score 10-10 and initiated a momentum change in favor of the Chargers. A Jackson to Kitrys combo at 9:46 decreased the Panther deficit to three, but another Bradford lay-in pushed the Chargers ahead, 21-16.

Another Kitrys jumper at the 4:50 mark would get the Panthers closer to a lead, as they trailed by two, 29-27. On the ensuing possession, Jackson found Mannix for three and brought the Brown and Gold within one of New Haven, 33-32. This sparked another shift in momentum, this time in favor of Adelphi at the 1:38 mark. Balfour pulled up for a jumper that pushed the Panthers ahead, 34-33.

A New Haven foul with 36.0 seconds left in the first half sent Kitrys to the line, and she made one of two, to tie the score at 35 apiece. Jackson pulled up for a quick two points on the final play of the half and put the Panthers in the locker room with a two-point lead over the Chargers.

Balfour led all players with 15 points and six rebounds for the Panthers in the half. In each of the previous matchups between the Chargers and Panthers, the team that trailed going into the locker room came out victorious.

The Chargers came out of the locker room hot, and put together an 8-0 run within the first two minutes. Jackson was fouled at the 16:22 mark and soon hit both of her free throws to even the score at 43. Kitrys nailed a jumper on the ensuing possession with 15:30 left to give the Panthers the lead, 45-43.

A jump ball at the 13:14 mark gave New Haven possession as they led the Panthers 52-50. The Panthers regained the ball and Kitrys drained a triple from downtown to push ahead, 54-53, but New Haven answered back just seconds later. At 11:17, Balfour hit back to back free throws to see Adelphi into the again, 57-56. The two teams put together a back-and- forth affair for the remainder of the half and they ended regulation in a tie, 75-75.

Kitrys scored first for Adelphi in overtime, as she went 2-2 at the charity stripe to put the Panthers up 77-75 with 4:23 to play. Seven missed Charger baskets proved to be the story, as the Brown and Gold saw their lead expande to 84-77 with under a minute to play. The Panthers were awarded 18 opportunities at the free throw line, and made 15 in overtime alone, which ended the game with a final score of 92-86.

Up Next
The squad will return to action on Saturday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m. at the Dana Center on the campus of Bentley University. They will face off against #3 LIU Post, who defeated Assumption College earlier Friday afternoon at the buzzer. Live stats for the game can be found by clicking here. Live video is also available here, if you can't make the game.