NORFOLK, Va. – The East Carolina women’s basketball team won a thriller in overtime, 59-58, over Old Dominion on Sunday afternoon in Chartway Arena. Amiya Joyner scored the game-winning basket with 5.9 seconds remaining as part of a 27-point, 17-rebound outing.
The game from the perspective of a basketball purist was hideous at times. The game was beautiful at times.
The Pirates (6-4) jumped out to as great as a 10-point lead in the first half, demonstrating stretches of purely dominant play. But the lead shrank away and, as ECU battled foul-trouble and injury, Old Dominion (6-4) was able to jump back in front.
For a while, the game was a back-and-forth affair worthy of the station of these two programs. Then, for a short time, the Monarchs took command, stretching their margin to as many as seven with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
After four lead changes in the first three quarters of the game, there were none in the fourth. Nonetheless, the ever-relentless Pirates battled their way back into the game with brute force, and a couple of beneficial bounces. Khia Miller who, by her lofty standards, had a difficult time shooting the ball on Sunday, hit two massive threes down the stretch, including an ugly, banked-in three with 18.0 seconds remaining in regulation which made it a one-point game.
After Old Dominion split a pair from the foul line, the Pirates drew one up for Joyner who made her move and was fouled with 7.2 seconds to play. The junior calmly sank them both.
In overtime, the game reached fever pitch. There were five lead changes in the final period. Both teams looked like they’d won it. Both teams looked like they’d lost it. The lead changed hands twice in the final 20 seconds alone before it was East Carolina who got the last best chance to win it with 10.3 seconds when they advanced the ball into the front court with the team’s final timeout.
The call was perfect, in to Morgan Moseley who faced up to the basket and fed Joyner. From there the Farmville native did what she does best with a turn and toss of a spinning right-handed scoop shot for the win.
ODU did get one final shot, but it was off the mark and the win was the Pirates for a 2-0 swing trip in Virginia.
Notables
- The game was Joyner’s 11th career 15-rebound game, third in program history behind Rosie Thompson and Debbie Freeman’s 12.
- It was also Joyner’s seventh career 20-point double-double.
- The Pirates are now 4-2 in overtime games under Kim McNeill and 33-38 all-time.
Up Next
The Pirates return home from their Virginia swing to host another school from the Commonwealth in VCU at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening in Minges Coliseum.
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