The Central Florida women's basketball team joined the Mid-Florida Conference postseason race in earnest Wednesday night, earning its first MFC victory with a 69-64 overtime victory over previously-unbeaten Hillsborough.
Playing some of the finest basketball of its season, CF built a 4-point halftime lead and extended it as high as 12 after halftime, appearing set to cruise to its first MFC victory.
But the visitors refused to give up their undefeated conference record easily. Hillsborough climbed back to within two points with 4:21 remaining, tied the game at the 2:15 mark and pulled ahead by a basket with a minute to play.
The situation appeared hopeless as Hillsborough inbounded with 11 seconds to play. But a feisty CF defense deflected the pass, and TiChina Mitchell converted a layup out of the scrum to tie the score. The Lady Hawks' potential buzzer-beater went awry, and the game proceeded to overtime.
Quinnecia Twine hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first two-plus minutes of overtime, each putting the Lady Patriots up by a point. After exchanging points with the Lady Hawks, Taylor Broadnax hit a mid-range jumper against a dwindling shot clock, putting CF up 67-64. Twine's pair of free throws with .8 seconds to play sealed the victory.
Twine scored 30 points, including 6 three-pointers, and 11 rebounds, both game-highs. Broadnax joined her backcourt mate in double figures with 10, while point guard Sesler turned in a 4-point, 9-rebound, 7-assist gem.
CF (10-11, 1-2 MFC) returns to the road on Saturday with a visit to FCS-Jacksonville. Daytona State visits CF on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.
