CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Spalding women's basketball team suffered a pair of one-point overtime losses to go 0-2 at the Lauren Hill Tip-off Classic over the weekend.
 
The Golden Eagles suffered a 74-73 loss to host Mount St. Joseph Friday night. Spalding trailed by six points at the half, but used a 14-2 run to open the fourth quarter to take a 10-point lead on a Bailei Walker layup with 2:33 to play. However, the Lions closed the game on a 10-0 spurt to send the game to overtime. A Meagan Hayden free throw put SU in front, 73-66, with 2:23 remaining, but the Lions closed out the overtime period with an 8-0 run to steal the win, 74-73.
 
Freshman forward Bailei Walker led Spalding with 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Natalie Fichter added 14 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Spalding fell to Centre, 76-75, in Saturday's game. Like Friday, the Golden Eagles faced a deficit at the half trailing Centre, 37-25, but outscored the Colonels 21-10 in the third quarter to get within one heading into the fourth quarter. A Sydney Raque three-pointer put SU in front, 58-55, and the Golden Eagles pulled out to a 64-58 lead with 59 seconds to go. The Colonels cut the Spalding lead to one-point, but a Kamryn McMahon layup pushed it back to three with 15 seconds left in regulation. The game looked to be over, but Maelyn Ridener was whistled for a foul on a Bailey Rucker three-point attempt at the buzzer. Rucker went 3-for-3 at the line sending the game to overtime where the Colonels would hang on for a 76-75 victory.
 
Natalie Fichter led the Golden Eagles with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Maleah Hirn added 14 points and 4 assists.
 
Up next, the Golden Eagles head to the Wooster Classic next Saturday and Sunday. The Golden Eagles open against host Wooster Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET and conclude weekend against Carnegie Mellon Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.