MELBOURNE – In a day meant to honor N.C. State coaching legend, Kay Yow and her legacy of hope. That hope shined through as the Panthers won 80-74 overtime thriller despite a 13-point deficit after the first quarter.
 
Amanda Allen had a huge day as she led the team in both points and rebounds with 18 and 7, respectively. She also led the game in blocks with three and she had one steal. Fanny Hakanson showed why she is one of the best passers in the country with a game-high eight assists.
 
The first quarter was not kind to the Panthers as the Eagles jumped out to a 3-13 advantage about six minutes into the contest. It did not get any better after that as ERAU went on an 11-0 run and that put Tech behind 5-24. The women did sink back-to-back threes to end the quarter and make it 11-24 after the first 10 minutes.
 
The second started out promising as the Crimson & Gray had eight out of the first 11 points and brought the differential down to eight. However, ERAU scored eight straight and it was back to 19-35. Little did the Eagles know this would be the last time they truly had momentum as the quarter ended with five of the seven points going in the Panthers favor and the score at the half was 28-39.
 
This strong display down the stretch carried into the second half and the feeling of hope everywhere. This translated in the third quarter box score as Tech outscored Embry-Riddle, 20-11. No big runs occurred in the period but a general sense of Florida Tech dominance was apparent. As the clock hit triple zeros, the score was 48-50 and the wild ride was set to begin.
 
The fourth started with the first three points coming from Embry-Riddle but the Panthers had the next five and brought it even for the first time all game. The women gained its first lead of the contest, 56-55, at the 6:44 mark when Severine Uggen drilled a three. ERAU did regain the lead on the next trip down the court but this was their last lead of regulation.
 
Gudluag Juliusdottir made a turnaround jay and brought it back level at 58-58 and she followed that with another bucket on the team's next trip and gave them the lead 60-58 with 5:29 left. It was close for the rest of the period as it was never more than a two-possession ballgame but Tech led until a shooting foul with 1.2 on the clock gave the Eagles a chance and Nikki Tucker converted both and tied it at 69-69.
 
The Crimson & Gray hoisted a last-second shot but it did not fall so to overtime we went. The extra five minutes of basketball, saw the hope re-emerge as they fell behind off the tip but exactly a minute later Fanny Paulin tied it up and then 45 seconds after that, Allen drained a three and put the team ahead for good. It was smooth sailing for the rest of the period as they outscored Embry-Riddle, 6-3, from that point on and came out with the 80-74 victory. 
 
The women's next contest is set for Wednesday, Feb. 19, as the team heads to Tampa for a 5:30 p.m. ET game against the Spartans.
 
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