Box Score Alvernia scored the last eight points of overtime to send the Misericordia University women's basketball team to a heartbreaking 87-81 defeat, Monday night in Reading.

Lauren Smicherko had a game-high 26 points to lead the Cougars while Justine Seely added 17 points and eight rebounds.

Seely gave the Cougars an 81-79 lead with 1:30 to play, but Alvernia answered with eight straight points.

Down by two, Smicherko made two free throws to pull the Cougars even, 79-79, with 2:00 remaining in OT.

Smicherko rescued the Cougars at the end of regulation when she sank two foul shots to forge a 74-74 tie with nine seconds to play.

The teams went to OT after Alvernia missed three free throws with less than one second remaining.

After leading 39-32 at the half, the Cougars found themselves trailing 59-54 with 10 minutes remaining.

MU battled back and Seely tied it, 72-72, with a jumper with 1:17 to go and set up a wild final minute.

Shannon Croasdale grabbed a defensive rebound off an Alvernia three-point attempt.

The Crusaders got a rebound on MU's attempt to take the lead, but immediately turned the ball over with 36 seconds remaining.

The Cougars missed a three-pointer, but got the rebound and another chance for a game-winning shot.

Instead, Alvernia forced a turnover and went the length of the floor for a layup and a 74-72 lead with 12 seconds remaining to set up Smicherko's heroics.

Sam Baro gave the Cougars a 76-74 lead with a layup to open the extra session.

Alvernia rallied to take a 79-77 lead, but Smicherko responded with two more free throws to tie it, 79-79.

Trailing 5-4 early, Smicherko's jumper put the Cougars the lead that they held over the final 16:20 of the first half.

Leading 17-13, Smicherko made back-to-back jumpers to put MU ahead, 21-13, with 9:38 left in the half.

Croasdale drilled a three-pointer to give the Cougars their biggest lead of the game, 24-15, with 9:02 to go before intermission.

Alvernia sliced the margin to one, 27-26, with 5:14 to go, but Jaclyn Hajec capped a 10-2 run with a three-pointer to put MU back up by nine, 37-28.

Misericordia will host Drew, Thursday afternoon in the Anderson Center.