Dan Eyrich, AP Sport
The EP Lady Panthers had a cold night shooting and it cost them as they lost in overtime to Putnam County in their third game at the Princeton Holiday Invitational, 41-34. The Panthers battled back in the fourth quarter to tie the game but were outscored 7-0 in the extra period.
The Panthers started the game with a tough man-to-man defense and forced multiple turnovers but the Panthers could not find the range and the two teams battled to a low scoring 6-5 score at the end of the first quarter with PC on top.
EP could not solve the Putnam County zone in the second period and found themselves without a point until the 3:45 mark of the quarter when they converted a free throw to make it 14-6. A bucket and bonus by Sydney Schwartz got the Panthers to within 4 with just over two minutes remaining. PC responded and went to the half with a 18-10 lead.
The teams played an even third quarter with EP trailing 29-21 heading into the final 8 minutes.
A three-ball by Kennedy Buck got the Panther comeback started. Schwartz then found the range from behind the arc for her first three of the night to make it a 29-27 game with five minutes remaining. EP eventually tied the game at 29 and took the lead on a bucket by Lauren Abbott. Another three-ball by Schwartz put EP up 34-30 with 2;30 left in the game. But PC’s center, Maggie Richetta got an inside bucket and Ava Hatton hit a jumper to tie the game at 34 with 1 minute left. The Panthers took a timeout and got two good looks inside by could not get the ball to fall. Each team had a chance in the final seconds but came up short.
Richetta got a bucket and one at the 2:33 mark to give PC a 37-34 lead in OT. The Panthers sputtered offensively with a turnover and could not get a good look in overtime with PC adding a three-ball to seal the win with just over a minute remaining.
Sydney Schwartz had 11 including a pair of threes for EP with Lauren Abbott adding 8. Richetta had 17 for Putnam County
The 2-1 Panthers will take on tournament host Princeton on Saturday at 7:00
