BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Behind double-double performances by both senior forward Robyn Jennings and junior guard Amy Gallagher, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team was able to escape Birmingham, Alabama with a 58-54 double-overtime victory over the previously undefeated Samford Bulldogs in the final game of the 2008 Samford-UAB Thanksgiving Classic at the Pete Hanna Center.

 

“I am so proud of this team for the heart that they showed tonight,” said UE head coach Misty Murphy. “We were down in the second half and in the first overtime, but the team never stopped working and you could tell that they wanted this win. They showed the heart of a champion tonight, and I could not be more proud of them.”

 

Evansville saw Samford use a 14-0 run midway through the second half to erase a once 11-point UE lead, and the Purple Aces were down three points with under five seconds to go, when Jennings grabbed a rebound off of a Samford missed free throw, raced down the court and was fouled in the act of shooting a three with 0.3 seconds left. She then stepped to the line and hit three free throws to tie the game at 47-47 and force overtime.

 

“The free throws by Robyn were huge,” said Murphy. “To be able to step to the line with that type of pressure and hit three free throws with the game on the line is amazing. It was a nice way to cap a great weekend here in Birmingham for her.”

 

In the first overtime session, the two teams would trade baskets and leads throughout, as two free throws by Samford sophomore Emily London and a free throw by freshman Jazmine Powers would give the Bulldogs a 54-52 cushion with 1:29 left. The Bulldogs would have a chance to seal the victory with 18 seconds to go, but the Bulldogs missed two free throws, and Evansville was able to find senior center Shannon Novosel underneath for a lay-up with six seconds to play to tie the game at 54-54 and force double-overtime.

 

In the second overtime session, Gallagher took the opening tip and raced down the floor for a lay-up to give UE a lead it would never lose. In fact, Gallagher would be the only player to score in double-overtime, as she also added a jumper left of the lane with 2:29 left to give UE the final margin of victory, 58-54. 

 

Novosel paced the Purple Aces overall with 15 points in 23 minutes of play, while Jennings added 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to record her second-straight double-double for UE. Gallagher, meanwhile, added 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds en route to her first career double-double at UE.

 

London led Samford with 21 points, including 18 in the second half and overtime. Forward Savannah Hill also chipped in 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who slip to 5-1 with the loss.

 

With the victory, Evansville improves to 4-1 on the season. The Purple Aces will now return home to Roberts Stadium on Wednesday night, as UE will host the Butler Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.