Box Score
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The way things have gone for the Bard College women's basketball team have gone this season, if a conference victory was in the offing, it certainly wasn't going to happen against any of the top four teams in the Liberty League.

Or was it?

The Raptors narrowly missed what would have been the upset of the season on Saturday when senior Mallory Apperson (Bemus Point, NY) hit an 8-foot jumper with one second left in overtime, lifting Rochester Institute of Technology over Bard, 71-70.

It was an agonizing loss, particular because Bard (1-18 overall, 0-10 Liberty League) played so well, and because RIT (10-10, 6-5 Liberty League) had to get a three-pointer from Ashlynn Palmitesso (Fulton, NY) with six seconds left in regulation just to force the overtime. The Tigers entered the weekend in the fourth and final playoff spot.

RIT spent all of the second half pursuing the lead and just waiting for Bard to fold. The Raptors led, 32-27, at halftime - the most first-half points they've ever scored in a conference game - and didn't appear ready to give the lead back as the second half progressed.

In fact, the Raptors extended the lead gradually, and it was 54-44 with 8:16 left in the game.

RIT gradually chipped away, eventually cut the lead to 62-60 with 1:26 left, and it was 63-60 after Bard's Bianka Bell hit 1-of-2 free throws with 27 seconds left. After an RIT time out, Abbey Labrecque stole the ball on an inbounds play, and she went to the foul line with 17 seconds left and the Raptors in the double bonus.

Labrecque missed both, however, and Palmitesso hit a long three-pointer with six seconds left and a defender in her face to tie it. Bell's running three-pointer at the buzzer missed and sent the game into overtime.

In overtime, a short jumper by Labrecque with 2:04 remaining gave the Raptors a 68-65 lead, but four consecutive free throws gave RIT the lead back, 69-68, with 36 seconds to go.

Bell was fouled with eight seconds left, and she tied the game with her first free throw, 69-69. After an RIT time out, she coolly hit the second free throw to give Bard the lead.

RIT hurried the ball up court and got it to Palmitesso, who took one dribble to the right of the foul line and sunk a short jumper. Bard's inbounds pass with one second left was intercepted by RIT, and the Raptors were defeated.

Palmitesso led RIT with 28 points.

Tytravia Riley had 23 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks to lead Bard. Joanna Regan added 12 points and six assists, and the league leader in minutes played the last 10 minutes of regulation and all of overtime with four fouls. Liz Freud added 10 points, and Bell finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists.

Bard, which had never scored more than 61 points in a conference game, will next play at RPI on Tuesday night. Follow that game right here via Live Stats or Live Video.