COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 21-point second half effort from sophomore
Bri O'Connor told the story on Monday night as the Capital University women's basketball team moved to 4-1 on the season with a 65-64 win over Alma College.
As if 21 second-half points wasn't enough, O'Connor's 20th and 21st points of the night came on an acrobatic buzzer beater with just 0.9 seconds remaining on the clock to give the Comets the come-from-behind win.
O'Connor and the Comets entered halftime with the score knotted at 22-22, none of which were scored Capital's number 23.
After the half, Alma controlled much of the early proceedings and even built a lead of 12 points with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter at 45-33.
Staring that deficit in the face, Capital immediately erased the bulk of that deficit as two 3-pointers from O'Connor sandwiched a three-point play by
Samaree Perkins.
To start the fourth, Alma once again started on the front foot and regained a seven point spread, but a 3-pointer from
Laney Murphy got them going again. From there, Capital got free throws from Murphy,
Demi Brewer and Perkins, but O'Connor handled the scoring from the floor to give Capital life.
With the score tied with 1:38 left in the game at 59, O'Connor traded a pair of free throws with a layup from Alma's Olivia Warren to bring the score to 61-61. With 54 seconds left,
Laney Murphy drove down the lane and splashed in a floating jumper to put Capital ahead 63-61.
In what looked to be enough to get the job done, the Scots' Taylor Sas drove to the basket and converted a running layup while drawing a foul. She converted the free throw to push the visitors ahead 64-63 with just 1.8 seconds left.
After a spurned first attempt at an inbounds from the wing, Capital got a second bite at the apple from under the basket. There,
Demi Brewer inbounded to O'Connor cutting to the front of the hoop. With just 0.9 seconds left, O'Connor acrobatically reached around her defender and got her shot off before the buzzer. Her shot banked home and sent The Capital Center into a frenzy to seal the comeback.
THE SHOT
THE NUMBERS
Bri O'Connor led the team with 21 points – all of which came in the game's final 14:02 of play. She added on six rebounds, two assists and four steals to her amazing night. Her 20+ output was her first career game with 20 or more in a game.
Laney Murphy also finished with 21 points. She added two rebounds and two steals to her efforts.
With both O'Connor and Murphy eclipsing 20 points in the game, it marked the first game since December 20, 2021 in which two Comets scored more than 20 in a single game. Murphy was a part of that output as her and Brooke Ommert both scored more than 20 in a win over Maryville.
Samaree Perkins was just one point away from another double-double as she finished with nine points, 11 rebounds, and three assists.
Capital dominated the glass out-rebounding Alma 41-35 overall and an incredible 17-8 on the offensive glass.
CATCHING UP WITH O'CONNOR
THE OPPONENT
Points - Izzy Alston (19)
Rebounds - Izzy Alston (9)
Assists - Olivia Warren/Reagan Thorr (5)
Blocks - Izzy Alston (2)
Steals - Brooke LeRoux (2)
UP NEXT
Capital will turn around and host Wittenberg on Wednesday, November 30th at 7 p.m. in The Capital Center. The game will serve as Capital's final tune-up before conference play begins Saturday, December 3rd at Otterbein in the "Battle for the Oar" presented by Byers Airport Subaru.
