ORANGE, Calif. - Linfield secured a thrilling 71-70 overtime win over Pomona-Pitzer at Hutton Sports Center in the first game of the SCIAC Classic on Friday night. The Wildcats were led by a standout performance from
Eve Burke, who filled up the stat sheet with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. Burke's all-around game was a key factor in Linfield's victory, as she added a 3-pointer and went 7-for-10 from the free-throw line. Her remarkable effort helped the Wildcats hold off a determined Pomona-Pitzer squad in a game that was back-and-forth throughout and came down to the wire.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Linfield trailing Pomona-Pitzer after the first period, but the Wildcats gained ground through the middle stages. Burke, along with strong performances from
Gillyan Landis (17 points, 6 rebounds) and
Allison Mead (15 points, 3 rebounds), powered the team in the second and third quarters to take a lead. Pomona-Pitzer's Emily Lee and Jadyn Lee were instrumental for the visitors, combining for 37 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the depth and resilience of the Linfield squad.
With nine seconds left in regulation, Burke drove the ball in and made a layup to put the Wildcats up two. After a timeout, the Sagehens drew up the game-tying play and Jaydn Lee found the bottom of the net on a jumper to send the game to overtime. After Lee tied the game at 70 with 19 seconds left in the extra period, Burke took matters into her own hands, drawing a foul with three seconds left and hitting a free throw to secure the win for Linfield.
In addition to impressive performances from Burke, Landis and Mead,
Miki Vermeulen poured in six point and nine rebounds while
Amelia Solt added five crucial points.
Linfield's defensive effort, which included 9 steals and 1 block, was critical in holding off Pomona-Pitzer's late charge. Despite Pomona-Pitzer's strong second-half performance, the Wildcats kept their composure and executed down the stretch. With Burke leading the charge, Linfield outlasted the Sagehens in a nail-biting finish, securing a win in its first game of the season.
NEXT
The Wildcats continue the SCIAC Classic against Chapman on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Orange, California.