Box Score The Misericordia University women's basketball team dropped its home opener in heartbreaking fashion, 83-81, in overtime to Lebanon Valley, Tuesday night at the Anderson Center.

Hannah Seely led the Cougars with game-highs in points (24) and rebounds (13) while Justine Seely added 17 points.

Katie Drayton and Lauren Smicherko both had 12 points and Sam Baro added 11 points.

MU led 37-31 at halftime and held a 13-point lead early in the second half, but Lebanon Valley chipped away over the final eight minutes.

After the Lady Dutchmen rallied to take a 66-33 lead with just under three minutes remaining in regulation, Justine Seely rescued the Cougars to force OT.

Justine Seely pulled MU within 66-64 with a free throw and tied it with a jumper with 2:05 to go.

Leb Val went back in front on a pair of free throws and Justine Seely tied it again, 68-68, with 1:02 to play and neither team was able to score over the final minute.

Justine Seely opened the overtime with a putback to give MU a 70-68 lead.

Sam Baro's driving layup put Misericordia ahead 72-70 and she drained a three in front of the MU bench as the shot clock wound down to make it 75-72.

Justine Seely's runner gave MU a 77-74 lead and another putback kept the Cougars in front, 79-76, with 2:20 left in OT.

LVC tied it with three free throws and went ahead, 81-79, on a layup with :33 remaining.

Lauren Oertner came off the bench to replace an injured Justine Seely and made one of two free throws to cut it to 81-80 and the Lady Dutchmen answered with two free throws with :12 to play.

Smicherko made a free throw with four seconds left for the final margin.

Lebanon Valley scored the game's first six points and built a 23-16 lead with 8:25 to play in the first half.

The Cougars used a 12-0 run to take their first lead and go ahead 28-23, with 4:22 to go.

Nikki Baro started the run with a pair of free throws and Hannah Seely converted a steal into a layup to get within four points.

Hannah Seely made a jumper in the lane and Drayton drained a long jumper from the right wing to put MU ahead, 24-23.

Nikki Baro followed with a short jumper to make it 26-23 and Hannah Seely capped the run with a jumper to make it 28-23 with 4:22 left in the first half.

Smicherko drained a baseline jumper for a 32-27 lead and added a three-pointer for a 37-29 lead with 1:25 to go.

The Cougars took advantage of a pair steals early in the second half to take a 43-31 lead Drayton drilled a jumper just inside the three-point line for a 47-36 lead.

Hannah Seely took another steal the distance for 49-36 advantage with 15:14 remaining.

Lebanon Valley battled back and eventually tied it 59-59 with just under six minutes to go.

Drayton's jumper put the Cougars back in front and Sam Baro answered a Leb Val bucket with a baseline jumper for a 63-62 MU lead.

Misericordia, 1-2, will host Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Friday at 7:00.