Box Score
BRONX, N.Y. – Senior forward Amani Lightbourne's two-point field goal just as time expired in overtime, propelled the Lehman College women's basketball team to a thrilling victory over St. Joseph's College of Brooklyn, 85-84, in the Lightning's home opener on Wednesday evening. In addition to the theatric ending was a historical moment, as Lehman head coach Eric Harrison surpassed Marguerite Moran for first place on the All-Time CUNYAC Coaches' Wins List with 254.

"It was a hard-fought victory," Harrison said. "'The team played hard and the strong effort from the players tonight shows what our program has been about for 18 years."

The victory did not come easy for the Lightning (1-2) as they trailed 58-49 with just over eight minutes left in regulation. Lehman would answer by scoring the next eight points, capped off by a jump shot from Lightbourne, to pull the home team within one.
With 4:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, junior guard Amely Del Rosario nailed a three-point shot to tie the contest at 62. The Golden Bears (0-2) responded by going on a 10-2 run to claim an eight point advantage with just 2:42 remaining.

It was Lehman's turn to turn the table as senior guard Jennifer Navarro's jumper capped off an 8-0 run for the home team, which pulled Lehman to a 72-72 tie, with 50 seconds remaining. Neither team was able to find the basket for the rest of regulation so the game went into overtime.

In the extra session, the Golden Bears were able to jump out to a five-point advantage, at 84-79, with 1:11 remaining. Senior forward Yarmese Jones began Lehman's rally by laying the ball up an in, with 1:04 left to go, to pull Lehman within three. After Lehman held St. Joseph's scoreless on the next possession, Jones converted another layup to shrink the Bears' lead to 84-83, with 34 seconds left.

St. Joseph's milked too much time as they could not get a shot off before the shot clock expired, giving Lehman the ball with just four seconds left.  

After advancing the ball off a timeout, Navarro inbounded the ball to Lightbourne, who shot the ball from just outside the paint. The ball rolled around the rim before it finally fell into the basket at the buzzer, to clinch Lehman's first win of the season and Coach Harrison's milestone.

"There have been many great coaches in the history of the CUNYAC," Harrison said. "To have the most wins in the history of the conference is an amazing honor."

Lightbourne finished with 34 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, forced six steals, and shot 3-4 from beyond the arc. Jones and Del Rosario each produced 18 points and seven boards, with the latter forcing four steals. Navarro added 12 points with four assists.

The Lightning will travel to Virginia this weekend for the Mary Washington Tournament. Lehman will battle Meredith College in the first round on Friday, beginning at 5:00 p.m.