Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore guard Tiffany Lapotsky nearly doubled her previous career high with 25 points, and senior guard Imani Brown added 21 points, but New Haven overcame a late comeback attempt from East Stroudsburg University to pull out an 88-85 overtime victory in the season opener for both teams on Friday.

The Warriors (0-1) trailed 76-68 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. Brown then scored seven of the team's eight points during an 8-0 run to level up the score with 42 seconds on the clock.

After the Chargers (1-0) retook the lead on a pair of free throws by Alexandria Kerr, a layup by freshman center Marlene Bassett on the ensuing possession extended the contest into overtime.

ESU had one lead in the extra session after a 3-pointer from Lapotsky made it 81-80 with 4:31 left. New Haven responded with the next seven points, and the home side kept it a two-possession game until only 15 seconds remained. The Warriors cut the deficit to three at that time on a Lapotsky layup, but New Haven was able to run out the clock on their next possession.

Lapotsky's previous career-high was a 14-point output against Bloomsburg last February. She hit 8 of 13 shots from the field, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and she also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

As a whole, however, the Warriors struggled on the glass, particularly on the offensive end. New Haven finished with a 23-11 edge in offensive rebounds and a 49-35 advantage overall. Kerr (21 points, eight rebounds) and Katia Oge (17 points, nine rebounds) were the top statistical contributors for the Chargers.

Neither side led by more than six points in a back-and-forth opening half, with New Haven ultimately entering the intermission with a 38-35 lead.

The home side maintained a 53-52 margin at the start of the fourth quarter, and they extended that advantage to their largest lead of 10 points following a 12-3 run to start the frame. Six ESU turnovers contributed to that stretch; the Warriors ended the night with 26 giveaways overall, more than they totaled in any game last season.

Brown (10 points) and sophomore guard Jordan Hertz (seven points) helped ESU get back in the game, with the duo combining for 17 of the team's 26 points in the fourth. Brown, who hit 8 of 16 shots from the floor, totaled 20+ points for the eighth time in her collegiate career.

Hertz ended the game with 10 points, while Bassett (10 points, five rebounds) also reached double figures in her ESU debut.

The Warriors remain on the road for the next contest, a 6 p.m. tilt at Holy Family on Wednesday.