CENTRAL, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan let a 10-point second half lead evaporate into an overtime loss on Thursday, falling 86-80 to Faulkner in Southern States Athletic Conference play.

  
The Warriors (7-12, 4-8 SSAC) held a 10-point lead with 16 minutes left in regulation before a 12-2 run by the Lady Eagles (12-10, 10-3 SSAC) cut the margin to two, three minutes later.  Faulkner took the lead back at 65-63 with 4:26 to play but the Warriors jockeyed back in front two minutes later.

The game saw three ties in the final two minutes of regulation and each team had a chance to win it in regulation.  The Warriors' Christiana Perkins missed a three with 42 seconds remaining and the Lady Eagles holding a 70-69 lead.  Perkins tracked down her miss in the corner and on the ensuing possession Bri Seda was fouled.  Seda tied the game by making one of two free throws and that gave Faulkner a chance to win the game with the final possession.

Shannon Evans missed a runner from the free throw line but Shatavia Farris pulled down one of her 14 rebounds but came up short on the following shot, sending the game to the extra session.  The first three minutes of overtime were tight, with neither team getting much of an advantage.  After a three-pointer from China Leary gave Faulkner a 76-73 lead with 2:03 to play the Lady Eagles started to pull away.

"I am so proud of our team's effort tonight," said SWU head coach John Davis.  "I cannot ask much more of them in terms of playing hard and competing.  My heart goes out to them.  We will grow as a coaching staff and as a team from this game."

There were 11 ties and 11 lead changes throughout the game, including two ties and three lead changes in the extra session alone.  Christiana Perkins and Chelsie Waters led the Warriors with 18 points each.  Perkins added a double-double with 11 rebounds.  Cayse Branyon joined them in double figures with 14 as did Michelle Anaya with 13 points.

The Warriors struggled from the free throw line, making just 19 of 39 attempts, good for just 49 percent.  Faulkner made 23 of 32 from the charity stripe, 72 percent.  SWU actually shot better from the floor, 43 percent to 37 percent for Faulkner.  Faulkner was led by Shatavia Farris' double-double fo 24 points and 14 rebounds.

The Warriors will host Brenau on Saturday at 2 p.m. SWU lost to the Tigers by a score of 78-51 earlier this season.