LaGRANGE, Ga. - Savannah Hailey and Ally Alford each scored 19 points to lead Belhaven past LaGrange, 80-72, in overtime on Wednesday night inside Mariotti Gymnasium. The Blazers improved to 8-9 overall and 5-4 in league play with the win.

The opening quarter proved to be highly competitive as neither team could hold more than a four-point lead. LaGrange finished on a 4-0 run to take a 14-13 advantage into the second frame. 

A fastbreak bucket from Ally Alford capped off six straight points for the Blazers who grabbed a 25-20 lead with just under four minutes left in the first half. The Panthers were able to finish on a 6-2 run to cut the Belhaven lead to 27-26 at the halftime intermission.

The Blazers began to create separation in the middle portion of the third quarter as an 8-0 run turned a 32-31 deficit into a 39-32 lead at the 3:09 mark.

Up 41-36 heading into the fourth, the Blazers saw a strong surge from LaGrange put the hosts in front, 42-41, with nine minutes left. The two teams traded baskets and the lead over the remainder of the game, and a LaGrange three with just 2.2 left on the clock tied things up at 58 to send it to an overtime period.

Belhaven opened the overtime with baskets from Ebony Gayden and Savannah Hailey to take control at 64-59. The lead never was less than four the rest of the way as a strong defensive effort and efficient free-throw shooting down the stretch pushed the Blazers to an 80-72 road win over the Panthers.

Hailey's 19 points and 19 rebounds were both season-high's for the Centreville, Mississippi native. Alford finished with 19 points as well, going 10-for-12 from the charity stripe. Gayden and Veronica Williams each added 13 points apiece.

Belhaven returns to Rugg Arena for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday as they host Piedmont at 2:00 PM.

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