ORANGEBURG, SC – Host South Carolina State squandered a 13-point second-half lead, but outscored Bethune-Cookman 11-7 in overtime to earn a 71-67 victory over the visitors Saturday at S-H-M Memorial Center.

Trinese Fox had 16 points -- five in the extra period – to lead a balanced Lady Bulldog scoring attack. Sunika Bullen, who connected on 4-5 baskets from three-point range, added 14 points, Sophilia Hipps 13 and Paris Alston 10 and a game high 12 rebounds.

Coach Doug Robertson's team improved to 10-17 and 5-10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with the victory, the second in a row for SC State.

The Lady Wildcats, who are having one of their best seasons in years, also featured balanced scoring. Jasmine Daniels led the way with 13 points. Euneshia Proctor and Demetria Frank contributed 12 each and Jasmine Bugg added 11. B-CU dropped to 14-13 and 9-6 in the MEAC with the loss.

SC State, which enjoyed a huge advantage on the boards – 64-37—was ahead 34-23 at the half. Jalisa Isaac connected on a 3-pointer for B-CU to start the second half to pull the visitors to within 34-26 but Fox got two free throws and Bullen one of her 3-pointers to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 39-26 with 18:46 left in regulation and it appeared the host may have been headed for an easy victory.

The Lady Wildcats, however, went on a 13-3 run to pull to within 42-39 on a 3-pointer by Bugg with 13:43 in regulation. A 6-2 SC State spree gave the host a 48-41 advantage at the 11:37 mark but B-CU stormed back once more and grabbed their first lead of the game – 54-53—on a Daniels 3-pointer with 3:51 showing.

Daniels added two free throws just over a minute later to push the lead to 56-53 before SC State's Whitney Wiley, who had missed her first 11 shots, connected on a 3-pointer to deadlock the contest at 56-all with 2:21 remaining in regulation.

Each team scored four points each the rest of the way, but missed opportunities to pull the game out in regulation which ended up 60-60.

B-CU scored the first basket in the overtime, a layup by Frank, to take a 64-62 edge but the Lady Bulldogs scored the next eight – three by Fox -- for a 68-62 advantage with 54 seconds left and hung on for the win.

The Lady Bulldog returns to action Monday when Florida A&M pays a visit to S-H-M for an MEAC doubleheader with gets underway at 5:30 p.m. The SC State tennis teams will be presented their MEAC Championship rings in a special ceremony between games.

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