ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team rallied from a large early deficit and eventually took a 77-74 decision from visiting Houghton College Friday evening at the Galanis Family Arena.

AU, which improved to 4-8 overall and 1-3 in Empire 8 play, trailed 17-2 eight minutes in, then went on a 26-10 run to take a 28-27 lead with 4:03 left in the first half.

The Saxons would take a 34-33 halftime lead as the game remained close the rest of the way. The biggest leads after intermission were three Alfred six-point advantages: 56-50 midway through the second; 58-52 with 8:17 left; and 60-54 with 7:17 left. Houghton held a 67-65 lead with 2:38 left before sophomore forward Amanda Off (South New Berlin, NY/Unadilla) made a layup with 2:22 left, making it 67-67, the score heading into the extra session.

Houghton (3-9, 0-4) held a 72-69 lead with 3:03 left in overtime before AU took a 73-72 lead on a layup by senior guard Emilea Harrison (Dansville, NY/Dansville) with 1:11 left. Houghton reclaimed a one-point lead (74-73) on two Maisie Pipher free throws with 48 seconds left before Harrison answered with a pair of foul shots to make it 75-74 with 21 seconds remaining. Houghton missed on its ensuing possession and senior guard Harley Cleary (Rochester, NY/Mercy) made two free throws with five seconds left to close out the scoring.

Off scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down a team-best nine rebounds for AU. Harrison added 18 points, three assists and four steals, and Cleary had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Pipher had 26 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Houghton, which held a 56-40 advantage on the boards. Hannah Manwaring had 15 pints (four three-pointers) and 11 rebounds and Hannah Fink had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

AU is in action next on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. at home against Utica.