Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

SCRANTON, PA — The day didn’t start well for the Houghton Lady Highlanders. Somewhere on the long stretch of highway between Houghton, New York and Scranton, Pennsylvania, their bus broke down. Not exactly the omen you want before a big game. By the time they got rolling again and pulled into Marywood around 1 p.m., the matchup had already been bumped an hour later — pushing tip-off to 3 p.m.

A handful of fans who arrived early waited it out in Marywood’s beautiful lobby, sipping coffee, chatting, and trying to figure out what caused the delay. It had that weird, slow, “something’s off today” kind of feeling. One Highlander joked she should’ve stayed in bed. Unfortunately for her, there was no staying in bed — there was basketball to play.

And Houghton came in hot.

They opened the season 2–0, destroying University of Pittsburgh–Bradford 114–40 in their opener, then rolling past Bryant & Stratton 80–51. Big wins, big scores, and a big roster. They were the clear favorites on paper.

Marywood, meanwhile, entered 1–2 — with losses to strong programs Messiah and Saint Vincent, but a solid win over Penn State Harrisburg. They knew what people were saying… but they also knew something more important: paper doesn’t play the game.

When Houghton walked into the Insalaco Arena, one thing was impossible to miss:

Their size.

• Tabitha DeVries — 6’2

• Tricia Carmer — 6’1

• Keely Mullins — 6’0

Long, athletic, physical. A paint-owning lineup. But Marywood didn’t blink — if anything, the height difference lit a fire.

A Game That Had Everything

Saturday afternoon inside the Insalaco Arena turned into the kind of game every sports writer lives for — swings of momentum, clutch defense, a roaring crowd, a fourth-quarter punch-for-punch battle, and an overtime finish straight out of a movie.

Marywood delivered one of their toughest defensive performances of the season — and they didn’t let up until the final buzzer in OT.

From the opening tip, Marywood punched first and punched hard. They jumped out to an 11–0 lead, shocking the favored Highlanders and setting the tone early. At the end of the first quarter, the Pacers led 19–10. At halftime, they kept full control — 36–25.

“I think we did a great job in the first half rotating out of help, communicating on switches… but in the second half, it’s much harder being away from the bench communication-wise. We got caught on some rotations that weren’t right, and they made the most of the mistakes.”

— Marywood Head Coach, Tara Macciocco

Marywood’s defense was suffocating early — forcing turnovers, jumping lanes, and pushing Houghton completely off rhythm. Offensively, the Pacers played smart, controlled basketball and dictated the entire first half.

But championship-caliber teams always surge.

And Houghton surged.

The Second-Half Push.

Houghton adjusted at halftime and came out more aggressive, more connected, and more confident. Shots that weren’t falling earlier suddenly started dropping. Their defense tightened, and possessions became a grind.

Marywood held on, answering nearly every Houghton run. But momentum — that invisible monster — began to lean toward the Highlanders.

At the end of the third, Marywood still led 48–39, but the energy in the gym said the game was far from over.

Heading into the fourth, Houghton turned up the pressure. Their offense clicked. Their defense sharpened. And the Pacers, despite fighting like warriors, watched their lead slowly shrink.

Fans felt the tension building. Every possession. Every rebound. Every whistle.

Late in the fourth, Houghton found the spark they’d been chasing all afternoon. Stops became transition points. Open shooters found their rhythm. The Highlanders clawed their way back, possession by possession.

And with the crowd holding its breath…

Houghton tied the game at 57 as regulation expired.

Overtime.

Winner-take-all.

Every mistake magnified. Every play pressure-packed.

“We really came together as a team. The team trusted each other the whole way through — start to finish. We were pressing, we were running, we were trying to wear them out… Marywood is a very good team. We had a couple bounces go our way at the end, and we trusted our senior point guard to find shooters and make the right read. We ended up with our freshman hitting the game-winner, which was really good.”

— Houghton Head Coach, Phil Pellegrino

Overtime brought out the absolute best in both teams. Every possession mattered. Every decision felt huge.

But with the clock winding down…

Houghton freshman Olivia Simser stepped into the moment.

Bang. A clutch three at the buzzer.

Houghton wins 69–66 in stunning, dramatic fashion.

Simser finished with 13 points — none bigger than the final shot of the afternoon.

“We just have to learn from the mistakes and not make them again. Continue to work at it and get better for league play.”

— Coach Macciocco

“It was a tough one. We’re going to learn from it. There are things we can work on and get prepared for conference games.”

— Marywood senior & Old Forge alum, Olivia Ciullo

Marywood may not have left with a win, but they absolutely left with respect. They showed heart, discipline, toughness, and a defensive identity that can hang with anybody.

This wasn’t just a game — it was a statement.

Even in defeat, the Pacers showed who they are becoming:

A connected team. A resilient team. A dangerous team.

Both squads emptied the tank. And for everyone watching, this was one of those games that reminds you why sports matter — the emotion, the drama, the grit, the unpredictability, and the thrill of watching two teams refuse to quit.

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