CLINTON, N.Y. -- The visiting Bates women's basketball team held a three-point lead with 37 seconds left in regulation, but couldn't hold onto it, falling in overtime by a count of 80-71 at Hamilton Friday night in NESCAC action. 

Senior captain Meghan Graff (South Portland, Maine) scored a team-high 20 points and senior Kayla Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded her first career double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) in the loss. 

Sophomore Alexandra Long (Newtown, Pa.) made a layup with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter, putting the Bobcats (7-6, 1-1 NESCAC) up 65-62. But Hamilton's Taylor Lambo sank a pair of free throws on the other end, cutting the Bates lead to one with 30 seconds left.

First-year Elsa Daulerio (Harpswell, Maine) split a pair of free throws for Bates, giving the Bobcats a 66-64 advantage with time running out for Hamilton.

But the Continentals (8-6, 1-2 NESCAC) got the points they needed, with just four seconds left in regulation. Emma Sehring missed a layup and Lambo got the rebound. She was able to get it back to Sehring, who made it the second time, tying the game at 66. 

A Graff jumper at the horn was off the mark and the game went to overtime.

The Bobcats fell behind by four in OT before rallying. Senior Jenna Berens (Durham, Conn.) tied the game at 71 on a pair of free throws with 2:19 left.

But a Sehring layup on the other end put Hamilton up for good, as the Bobcats went cold from the field and the Continentals made their free throws down the stretch, finishing the game on a 9-0 run. 

The Bobcats led 20-12 after one quarter of action, only to see Hamilton out-score them by 12 in the second quarter, as the Continentals took a four-point lead into halftime.

Bates responded by outscoring Hamilton 21-16 in the third quarter, going up by one heading into the final 10 minutes of action. The Bobcats led by as many as five in the fourth quarter before the hosts chased them down.

Five Bobcats finished in double figures. Berens scored 12 points on 5-7 shooting and Long also finished with 12 points for Bates. Daulerio added 10 points on 4-8 shooting and nine rebounds.

Bates was just 1-10 from three-point range while Hamilton hit 4-8 from long distance. Sehring and Emily Hall scored 20 points apiece to pace the Continentals.

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday afternoon when they visit No. 21 nationally ranked Amherst for a 3pm tip.