WATERVILLE, Maine – The New England College women's basketball team picked up their first win of the season in dramatic fashion with a 73-70 overtime victory at Thomas College on Sunday afternoon at Larry Muhaney Gymnasium in the Terrier Classic in non-conference action.

THE BASICS
Score:                  New England College 73, Thomas 70
Records:              Pilgrims 1-1 | Terriers 0-2

TURNING POINTS

• The Pilgrims were down by as eleven in the opening minutes of the game before a 9-1 run at the start of the second quarter pulled them to within two after a layup from NEC senior forward Gabriella Matlock (Tulare, Calif.), making the score 19-17 with 6:00 left in the opening half. Junior guard Macy Gordon (Boscawen, N.H.) gave the 'Grims their first lead of the game with 3:31 remaining in the second quarter, and the visitors would go into halftime up by one at 29-28.
• The second half was a hotly contested battle throughout, with neither team ever leading by more than four. With 55 seconds left, Thomas first year forward Pryelle Kesse-Beda (Temecula, Calif.) buried two free throws to put the Terriers up by three. On the next possession, NEC missed two free throws with 32 seconds left, giving Thomas the chance to clinch it. The 'Grim defense was up to the challenge, however, forcing the missed layup with NEC junior-transfer guard Ajayah Lively (Victorville, Calif.) securing the defensive rebound. Fifteen seconds later and still down three, NEC senior guard Amya Moss (Norfolk, Va.) found Lively open behind the arc, and a three-pointer tied the game up at 61-61. Running down the clock, Thomas again had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but the Pilgrims once again got the stop as the game headed into overtime.
• In the extra frame, Moss scored seven points to lead the way for the 'Grims, putting her team up by five with 12 seconds left. The Terriers were forced to foul after making a basket, and Gordon calmly buried two free throws to put the game out of reach. A field goal at the buzzer by Thomas was not enough to change the result.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Gordon led the 'Grims with 14 points including three-of-five three-point shooting. Moss contributed 13, getting to the line ten times on the day.
• Thomas senior forward Sky Kubwalo (Indianapolis, Ind.) led all scorers with 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals while junior guard Elena Alderman (Mount Desert Island, Maine) added 16 points.
• Lively posted a double-double for the Pilgrims with ten points and eleven rebounds.
• Three-point shooting proved decisive for the 'Grims, as they shot 7-of-13 from behind the arc (53.8 percent) against 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) for the Terriers.

UP NEXT

• Up next for NEC, the team has their home opener on Tuesday when they play host to Keene State in a 6:00 p.m. game.
• Thomas travels to Colby-Sawyer College for a 5:30 p.m. game on Wednesday.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.