Harrisonburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's women's basketball team erased a five-point deficit in the final 6 seconds of regulation, but the Hornets couldn't complete the comeback in overtime, falling 73-71 at the buzzer Saturday at Eastern Mennonite.

Trailing 59-54 in the waning seconds of the fourth period, Macey Mullins snagged an offensive rebound before the ball fell out of bounds and was fouled. The freshman made both free throws to make it a one-possession game, and Lynchburg immediately fell into press defense. It worked. Maddie Nimmo came up with the steal near midcourt and shoveled the ball to Olivia Harris in the left corner, who nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game.

EMU retook the lead early in overtime, but the Hornets charged back to hold a 68-67 advantage on Jayda Chambers' basket with 1:44 to go. After the Royals retook the lead, Nimmo sank a game-tying 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining. The Royals took a timeout to set up their final possession, and it paid off; Mya Hamlet's layup as the horn sounded secured the win for the hosts.

Lynchburg trailed by four at the half, 28-24, but the Hornets gained their footing in the third period. The visitors' lead swelled to as many as eight in the fourth period before EMU charged back with a 13-0 run to lead by five in the final minute.

Bree Spainhour led the Hornets with 16 points while Mullins and Nimmo scored 15 apiece. Nimmo also had team-highs with seven rebounds and five assists.

Lynchburg (7-14, 6-8 Old Dominion Athletic Conference) will return home Wednesday for a 5 p.m. tilt with Roanoke College.

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--LYN--