AMERICUS, Ga. – UNCP used two late free throws by Illya Hunt to send the game into overtime, but Georgia Southwestern outscored the Lady Braves 11-8 in the extra period to register a 71-68 victory in Peach Belt Conference action on Sunday afternoon in the Storm Dome.

Georgia Southwestern (8-6, 2-3 PBC) registered the first points in overtime with a put back by Nadirah Gardner, but JaToya Kemp – who scored six of the eight points in overtime for the visitors - answered back for UNCP (5-10, 1-6). After Talena Faison drove into the lane and made the jumper to bring the Black and Gold to within two points, a foul with 27 seconds left sent Tania Walters to the charity stripe where she hit 1-of-2 free throws to put Georgia Southwestern up by three. 

Georgia Southwestern was first to score in the game with a free throw by Kanita Holloway, but UNCP was not far behind with DeDe Cotton turning the Lady Braves' energy on with a layup. The Lady Braves increased their lead over the Lady Hurricanes to 14 points at the 4:17 mark in the first half, but Georgia Southwestern cut the lead down to five by the halftime buzzer. 

The lead changed 11 times in the second half while the score was tied five times. Georgia Southwestern out-rebounded UNCP by 12 boards (51-to-39), while the two teams combined for 35 turnovers and 38 fouls during the matchup.

Bivins scored a game-high 22 points for Georgia Southwestern, while Cierra Duhart knocked down 11 points and a team-best nine rebounds. Walters and Gardner each had 10 points apiece. Holloway registered nine points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Walters tallied six assists and five steals. Georgia Southwestern shot 38.4 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from the 3-point line as Bivins had four of the total six 3-pointers scored.

Kemp registered a team-best 19 points and eight rebounds while Faison tallied 13 points, five rebounds and a trio of assists. Hunt dished out a career-high nine assists and collected three steals. Courtney Bolton and Domonique Washington scored 10 and eight points, respectively. The Lady Braves were 40.0 percent in field-goal shooting and 66.7 percent in 3-point shooting.

"I thought were played competitive throughout the game but we missed a few key shots we needed to make which could have given us the win," said UNCP coach John Haskins.

UNCP will return home to the English E. Jones Center on Thursday to face conference foe Augusta State (6-7, 0-6). Tip off has been set for 5:30 p.m. with the UNCP men following the conclusion of the women's game. Admission prices are $6 for adults and $2 for children 18 years of age and younger. UNCP students are admitted free with a valid Braves Card.