Huntsville, Ala. -- After trailing for most of the game, the Lady Hawks fought back in the fourth quarter to force overtime, before falling to UAH 73-72.
 
With the loss, Shorter moves to 2-8 overall and 0-4 in the Gulf South Conference; while the Chargers improve to 7-3 on the season and 2-2 in the conference play.
 
The first quarter was back-and-forth as the teams traded baskets, ending the quarter tied at 13 apiece. UAH then opened the second period scoring the first four points, to pull away. Shorter was able to cut the lead back to one on a three from Tatum Ragsdale moments later, making it a 17-16 game in favor of the Chargers. Only to have UAH take an 11-4 run to extend their advantage to eight, 32-24, with 3:01 to play. From there, however, it was all Shorter in the period as BreAnna Thompson tallied the final five points of the frame to cut the lead to three, 32-29, heading into halftime.
 
UAH kept the momentum through the third quarter, extending their lead back to eight in the opening seconds. Shorter then tallied a 10-3, three-minute run to cut the lead to one, 40-39, on a layup from Jasmine Gaines with 5:40 remaining. Only to have the Chargers answer with a 5-1 run, all on free throws, of their own to regain a six-point lead with just under three minutes to play. The Lady Hawks managed to cut the lead to as little as two over the final minutes, but went into the fourth quarter trailing 50-46.
 
Shorter came back in the fourth to force overtime; cutting the lead to one twice, before using a 6-1 run over the final ninety seconds – capped by a layup from Bianca Thornton as time expired – to tie the game at 64 apiece to send the game to extra time.
 
In the overtime period, the teams traded baskets and the lead, with neither being able to make a considerable run. The Lady Hawks' final points of the game came with just under a minute to play as Jackie Hudson netted a layup to make it a 72-70 game in favor of Shorter, but the lead wouldn't stand as Chandler Elder converted 3-6 free throws over the final thirty seconds to give the Chargers the win, 73-72.
 
In total, the Lady Hawks shot 47 percent for the game, while keeping UAH to a 39 percent shooting night. The difference, however, came at the free throw line as the Chargers converted 61 percent, and the Shorter finished 5-17 on the night.
 
Three Shorter players finished in double figures, led by Gaines with 18. Thornton finished with 16 points; while Thompson added a double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds.
 
Elder led the offense for UAH, turning in a game high 25 points. While, Aryn Sanders added a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds.
 
The Lady Hawks will have a week off before returning to campus late next week to begin preparations for the first game back after the holidays, when they welcome West Florida to the Winthrop-King Centre Tuesday, January 2, for a 6:00pm tip.