Athletics - Women's Basketball

Coming up — Saturday, Jan. 5, Central, Small Multi-Sport Center, Mount Vernon, 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 9, Simpson, Small Multi-Sport Center, 6 p.m.

Ram review – Junior forward Tiffany Cowan (Independence, Mo./Truman) came off the bench and netted a career-high 27 points to lead Cornell to a 70-66 overtime victory over Heidelberg Dec. 31 in Tiffin, Ohio.

The Rams (5-4 overall), who overcame a 12-point deficit with six minutes left in regulation, posted their fourth consecutive victory and carry a winning record into New Year’s Day for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

“To go eight hours on the road and beat a good team is definitely a feather in our cap,” Cornell head coach Brent Brase said. “I’m happy with our progress as a team and as a program. I think we’re playing well. We still need to learn to sustain our physical and mental toughness. We’re getting there, but we’re not there yet.”

Cowan help steer the Rams back from a 33-24 halftime deficit, scoring 21 of her points after intermission, including seven in the overtime period. Cowan’s layup with 17 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 61-61 and forced overtime.

Cowan converted a 3-point play to open the scoring in overtime, but Heidelberg (5-5) regained the lead at 66-65 with less than two minutes left. Cowan capped her big game with a jumper and two free throws in the final minute to preserve the comeback win.

Cowan finished 10-of-18 shooting from the floor and went 5-of-5 from the foul line. She also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in 29 minutes of work. Freshman Melanie Duplessis (Lindenhurst, Ill./Warren Township) added 14 points and six rebounds. Alicia West (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth) chipped in 13 points and Kristin Paczosa (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) had eight rebounds.

“Tiffany really shot well in the second half and overtime,” Brase said. “She and Melanie hit some big shots for us down the stretch.”

The Rams shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field and held a 39-28 edge on the boards. Cornell limited Heidelberg to 2-of-9 shooting in overtime. The Rams outscored the hosts, 31-12, in bench points.

League play resumes – Iowa Conference play resumes Saturday when the Rams (0-1 IIAC) host Central (2-9 overall, 0-2 IIAC) at 4 p.m. at the Small Multi-Sport Center. The teams split a pair of meetings last season, with Cornell taking a 57-49 win in Mount Vernon and Central prevailing 62-53 in Pella. Central is 16-4 all-time against the Rams in IIAC play.

“Our goal is to go 1-0 each game,” Brase said. “They’re all big games from here out.”