BOURBONNAIS, Ill. --- A career high 39 points from Justene Charlesworth and a game winning layup with 1.8 seconds to play in overtime by Hannah Swiatek enabled the University of St. Francis women's basketball team to maintain its first-place standing in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference with its 99-97 victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Wednesday night.

The Saints (12-5, 9-1 CCAC) trailed by as many as 12 points in the second quarter and 76-67 with 6:29 remaining in regulation when Charlesworth took control. She tallied 19 of her game high 39 points and all but six of the team's 25 points in the fourth quarter where she registered four of her eight three pointers on the night. 

The eight treys marked the second time this season that Charlesworth tied the single-game school record in that category. For the contest, she went 14-of-22 from the field, 8-of-13 from three-point range and 3-of-4 at the foul line. She also recorded three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

USF's first lead of the game did not come until 1:20 remained in the third quarter. That 59-57 advantage as well as two leads early in the fourth quarter lasted less than 25 seconds each before Olivet Nazarene (9-7, 6-3) went up by the nine-point margin with under seven minutes to play.

Charlesworth, who gave the Saints their first lead on a trey, also wiped out the nine point deficit with her three point play with 2:01 remaining in regulation. A four point play moments later by Charlesworth had USF up 86-82 with 1:18 left. Olivet Nazarene, however, forced the eighth time of the game at 86-all with 55 seconds remaining. The Saints followed with two chances to break the tie and Olivet Nazarene one, but to no avail.

A 7-0 run in the overtime period looked to put the Saints up for good 95-91 with 1:44 left only to have Olivet Nazarene rally again forcing two more ties in the closing 48 seconds before Swiatek found an open lane to the basket for her first career game winning field goal.

USF finished the contest registering season-high shooting percentages both overall (.530, 35-of-66) and from beyond the three-point arc (.545, 12-of-22). The Saints also hit on 73.9 percent of their free throws (17-of-23) compared to just 11-of-25 (.440) for Olivet Nazarene.

In a game that featured 11 ties and seven lead changes, nine players scored in double figures. Jordan Pyle was right behind Charlesworth as the contest's second leading scorer with 23 points, including six in overtime. She also dished out eight assists and had five steals, both of which were game highs.

Kalyn Sias-Chaney was next in line with 13 points followed by Braxtin Mickens off the bench with 11 points.

Olivet Nazarene was led by Caroline Boehne's 22 points and Kennedy Johnson's 20. 

Of USF's five starters – leading scorer Andriana Acosta was still out with an injury – only two finished the game on the court. Two of the other three fouled out and another left with an injury early in the second quarter.The Saints only played eight individuals in the contest.

Up Next
The Saints host Cardinal Stritch University in a CCAC matchup Saturday afternoon at 1 pm at the Sullivan Center.

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