WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The ending couldn’t have been scripted any better Saturday afternoon inside Platt Arena where a double OT buzzer-beating three by Gabi Melby lifted the HU women’s basketball team past #14 Saint Francis 80-77 on arguably their most important game of the year. It was Huntington’s annual Pink Out to honor those who have fought breast cancer while raising funds to support breast cancer research.

Having lost to the Cougars (19-3, 9-3) in December by 16, it would have been easy for the Foresters to fold any one of the three times USF bolted in front by double figures. But not this group. Instead, a gritty HU squad fought back each time with 15 points the largest gap they had to overcome at 55-40 with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Huntington trailed throughout the first 37 minutes until Liv Raby’s bucket down low at the 2:55 mark of the fourth quarter forced the game’s first tie at 60-60. It wasn’t until there were :47 ticks remaining in regulation that the hosts enjoyed their first advantage of the afternoon compliments of Kyndell Jochim’s triple from the top of the key.

It was her fourth three-pointer of the game but it wasn’t her last. The 6-1 sophomore nailed another huge three out of a timeout in the second extra period that knotted things up one last time at 77-77 with :21 seconds remaining before Melby’s heroics sent Platt Arena into hysterics.

The defensive stop leading up to Melby’s game-winner was just as praiseworthy. From the top of the key, USF freshman Cali Gregory tried to penetrate down the lane, but Annaka Nelson wasn’t having it. The 6-1 forward came up with a huge block and then it was Raby who was there to rip down the rebound with 2.3 seconds remaining.

A quick timeout by Maggard allowed the Foresters to set up one last play with the ball out-of-bounds in front of their bench. Starting on the opposite block, Melby set a back screen and then curled around a high screen, receiving a pass on the run that she let fly from the corner. And the rest, as they say, was history as the ball nestled itself in the net for an ESPN SportsCenter moment.

Melby, who played the entire 50 minutes, finished with 16 points, four assists and three rebounds. Jochim poured in a team-best 21 points which included going 5-for-8 from deep. She also pulled down six rebounds.

Raby scored 14 of her 20 points after intermission. She also came up with ten boards, handed out two assists, swatted two shots and added a steal. Bailey Kelham posted 13 points, four rebounds and just as many assists. Nelson did a little bit of everything for her team by recording nine points, ten rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.

Cassidy Crawford led all scorers with 31 points. She also grabbed 11 boards for the double double. Gregory netted 16 points while Chloe McKnight dropped in 15.

The win is HU’s second this season over a Top 15 opponent with their first against #7 Cumberlands (Ky.), a 90-84 decision, back in early November. Huntington’s overall record currently stands at 12-10 which includes a 5-7 league record.

On Wednesday, the Foresters will look to avenge an 89-85 loss to Mount Vernon earlier this season.