Box Score / Photo Gallery

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University overcame a six-point deficit at the end of regulation and nearly came back from six down again in the final minute of overtime before falling to the University of the Sciences, 64-62, in women's basketball at Koehler Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

The Warriors trailed by as many as eight in the second half and were down 58-52 with just over three minutes left before rallying to tie the game. Senior forward DeAnna Rayam scored 17 points and hit a layup and a free throw to pull ESU within 58-55, and senior guard Mel Villano (12 points) tied the score with a three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining.

USP (1-2) scored five points in the first minute of the extra session, with a three-point play by Marissa Chesnavich (14 points, 16 rebounds) and a jumper by Erin Chesnavich (24 points, nine rebounds). Melissa Rotz made the first of two free throws for a 64-58 lead with 42 seconds left but the Warriors got a quick jumper by Villano, USP missed two free throws and Rayam rebounded her own missed three-pointer and laid it in to make the score 64-62 with 13 seconds to play.

USP threw the ball away at midcourt and Rayam drove to the basket on ESU's possession, but absorbed contact in the lane and missed the jumper and the Devils survived.

ESU (0-3) led 37-31 at halftime, its third straight strong opening period to begin the season, and shot 52 percent with just five turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Rayam had 12 points in the first half and sophomore guard Cyara Woodridge and junior guard Kristin D'Arienzo both set career-highs with eight points.

The Warriors twice led by eight points, their largest of the game, late in the first half on buckets by freshman guard Barb Borst and freshman center Kelly Sorber, before the margin settled at six at the half.

Borst finished with eight points and Sorber had five points and six rebounds. Rayam also grabbed six rebounds and sophomore forward Jennifer Scherer had six boards and five assists.

Marissa Chesnavich had five assists and three blocks to go with her double-double and Alyssa Hamm scored 14 points. Rotz had seven assists and five turnovers.

The Warriors are back in action on Thursday with a non-conference match-up against PSAC East opponent Shippensburg at 7 p.m. at Koehler Fieldhouse in the first game of the 45th Annual Pocono Classic. ESU will play Salem International on Saturday at 1 p.m. in its second game of the classic.