LANGHORNE, PA- The Highlanders got back to their winning ways Tuesday night, defeating the Wesley College Wolverines 57-54 in a scintillating overtime contest.
 
The Highlanders started off slowly as Wesley vaulted out to a 10-2 lead, but Payton Emerick, Kendra Stum, and a timely three pointer from Jenna Krage kept the Highlanders within reach.  The Highlanders started the second quarter on an absolute tear, playing stifling pressure defense and flying down the court for layups on the other end.  Despite losing the rebounding battle, the Highlanders forced Wesley into a number of turnovers and scored 10 fast break points in their dominant second quarter.  Krage knocked down another three with 9 seconds left in the half, and Stum showed incredible alertness to steal the inbounds pass and finish a layup as time expired. 
 
The Wolverines bounced back in the third quarter and held a two point lead going into the final quarter.  Dakota Hitchner knocked down a three to put the Highlanders ahead and both teams buckled down on defense, playing conservative basketball and not wanting to give up the lead.  Midrange jumpers from Stum and Charlotte Allen as well as a layup from Krage, who also took two crucial charges, kept the score level.  The Wolverines Lekeshia Brown-Myrick hit a jumper with two minutes left to take the lead, before Stum finished a turnaround jumper of her own to tie the game at 46 apiece.  With a minute left on the clock, neither team could manage the crucial game-winning bucket and the game headed to overtime.
 
With the game hanging in the balance, Payton Emerick took control for the Highlanders.  The senior knocked down an and-1 jumper, finished an and-1 layup, and threaded a beautiful pass to a cutting Aigner Bookard for the game-sealing bucket.
 
Emerick finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Highlanders, while Kendra Stum tallied 13 points and Dakota Hitchner chipped in across the board with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Highlanders restart CSAC play tomorrow night, hosting Keystone College at 6:00 PM.