The Chestnut Hill College women's basketball team battled back from a ten-point deficit late in the third quarter to force overtime against regionally ranked Kutztown University.  The Bears however prevailed in the extra period and hung on to defeat the Griffins 60-55 win Wednesday night at Sorgenti Arena.

Chestnut Hill falls to 6-3 overall while Kutztown, ranked sixth in the most recent D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll, improves to 8-3

Cassie Sebold led the Griffins with 16 points and seven assists.  Emily Chmiel came off the bench to record her third double-double of the season with 15 points and a team high ten rebounds.  Lindsey Lane added eight points and six rebounds while Lauren Crim had seven rebounds and six points.

The Bears outscored the Griffins 23-9 in the first nine minutes of the third quarter, erasing a four-point Griffin lead to take a 44-34 lead.  Chmiel's layup with 26 seconds left in the quarter cut the deficit to eight 44-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Griffins scored the first nine points of the quarter to take a 45-44 lead.  Morgan Sterner opened the scoring with a three-point basket.  Sebold and Crim followed with a pair of free throws each and Chmiel capped the run with a layup at the 7:21 mark.  Kutztown countered with a 7-2 run to lead 51-47 with 1:02 left.  Crim cut the lead to two with two free throws at the12:00 minute mark and Chmiel tied the game at 51-51 with 24 seconds left.  The Bears turned the ball over in their final possession but the Griffins could not score and the game went to the extra period.

Chmiel had two baskets to open the Griffins scoring in the overtime, taking a 55-53 lead.  Kutztown's Rylee Derr tied the game at 55-55 with 3:05 left and a three-point basket from Annie Whalen put KU ahead for good 58-55.  Derr added two free throws to round out the scoring.

Derr, the Bears leading scorer, was held to just seven points in regulation and added four more in overtime to finish with 11.  She also grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.  Alexis Smith led Kutztown with 17 points while Whalen added 11. 

The Bears shot 37.9% (22-58) for the game while the Griffins struggled offensively, making 20 of 76 shots (26.3%) from the field.  Chestnut Hill was also outrebounded for the first time this season with the Bears grabbing 52 rebounds to the Griffins 44 despite a 19-13 advantage on the offensive glass.  The Griffins forced 27 turnovers which led to just 12 points off turnovers while the Griffins committed 15 leading to seven KU points.  

The Griffins return to action for a non-conference game on Saturday, December 11, 2021 against Mercy College at Sorgenti arena before breaking for final exams.  Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m.