BRIDGEPORT, CT – Junior guard Ashley Rath buried a 3-pointer at the top of the key with 37 seconds remaining in overtime and The College of Saint Rose women's basketball team went on to capture a 74-70 non-conference victory over the University of Bridgeport today at Hubbell Gym. The Golden Knights thus avenged a double-overtime setback against the Purple Knights in Albany last year and won their fourth straight in the process.

Rath, who led four players in double-figures for Saint Rose (8-2) with 23 points, also became the eighth player in program history to record 100 career 3-pointers with her key trifecta down the stretch. Junior guard Ola Shajuyigbe wound up with 16 points, while junior forward Ali Johnson added 13 points.

Additionally, senior guard Lynsey Timbrouck had a “double-double” on the strength of 12 points and a career-high tying 13 assists.

Bridgeport (3-6) featured a balanced attack despite dropping its third in a row. Junior guard Julia Colley was one of five Purple Knights to hit twin-digits with 16 points.

The Golden Knights found themselves down one, 70-69, after Bridgeport sophomore guard Elsebeth Birman finished in the paint with 56 seconds left. Rath then broke free and put Saint Rose ahead to stay. The Golden Knights forced a turnover on the ensuing possession and Timbrouck converted a pair of free throws with one second on the clock to seal things.

Bridgeport had a chance to put the game away in regulation with things deadlocked at 64-64. Rath went to the rim with 19 seconds to go, but freshman center Kelly Keil rejected the attempt and the Purple Knights came away with the rebound. Keil then caught the ball on the left block at the other end, but her jumper bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

It appeared Saint Rose was in control after going into the locker room up 11, 37-26, at the break. However, Bridgeport outscored the Golden Knights 17-6 to knot things at 43-43 at the 10:23 mark. Saint Rose was limited to just four field goals throughout the first 13 minutes of the second stanza and still trailed by five, 58-53, with 5:24 left. Rath jumpstarted things again with another trey and the Golden Knights evened things yet again before the late dramatics ensued.

Saint Rose will have 12-days of rest before returning to its Northeast-10 Conference slate on Sunday, January 2. The Golden Knights begin 2011 with a trip to American International College for a 1:30 pm tip-off. Meanwhile, Bridgeport is scheduled to play back-to-back games at the Southern New Hampshire University Holiday Classic on December 29 and December 30. The Purple Knights take on Bentley University at 3:30 pm Wednesday before meeting the host Penmen at 5:30 pm Thursday.

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