HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana senior guard Elizabeth Styles scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Lady Lions to a thrilling 69-67 overtime victory over Florida A&M in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the University Center.
 
The Lady Lions (4-6) returned home for the first time since Dec. 2 and snapped a three-game losing streak. Fifteen of Styles' points came in the second half as SLU bounced back from an 11-point halftime deficit to force overtime against the visiting Rattlers (3-6).
 
In overtime, Styles and senior backcourt mate Symone Miller scored six points apiece to allow Southeastern to outlast FAMU. Styles also notched three steals, as the Lady Lions forced a season-high 26 turnovers.
 
Styles and Miller (15 points) were joined in double figures by junior forward Nanna Pool, who posted her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Pool moved into 10^th place on the school's career list with 585 rebounds.
 
Senior forward Jameika Hoskins chipped in with seven points – including the game-tying free throw at the end of regulation – and 11 rebounds. Styles paced the team with a game-high six assists.
 
Junior forward Olivia Antilla scored a game-high 22 points for FAMU, while also leading the Rattlers with eight rebounds. Freshman guard Dawn King (16 points) and junior guard Khaderja Young (15 points) joined Antilla in double figures, while Young also dished out a team-high four assists.
 
FAMU held Southeastern to just 22.9 percent (8-for-35) shooting in the first half to take a 32-21 lead into the break. SLU opened the second half on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to single digits. However, FAMU continued to hold off the Lady Lions. The Rattlers maintained a six-point lead with 3:05 left after an Antilla jump shot.
 
Styles slashed to the hoop for a bucket on the ensuing possession, then a Young turnover led to a basket by freshman guard Taylin Underwood to cut the lead to 55-53 with 2:30 remaining.
 
After both teams traded empty possessions, another Antilla score put FAMU up, 57-53, with 1:38 left. Styles' ability to penetrate led to SLU's next score, as the Savannah, Georgia native knifed into the lane and found an open Hoskins for a score and a three-point play opportunity. Hoskins knocked down the free throw to pull the Lady Lions within one with 1:24 remaining.
 
Both teams couldn't find the basket on the ensuing possessions, but SLU had one last possession with the shot clock turned off. Miller left her shot short, but Hoskins was able to come out of the scramble with the offensive board. After drawing a foul, the Aberdeen, Mississippi product netted one of two from the line to force overtime.
 
SLU controlled overtime from the onset, as Styles scored and Miller followed with a three-pointer to give the Lady Lions a five-point lead less than a minute into the extra period.
 
Florida A&M battled back and a layup by Young knotted the score at 62 with just over two minutes left. Styles answered with another strong drive to the hoop, then Miller hit her second trey of overtime to give SLU a 67-62 lead with a minute left.
 
This time, there was no rally left in the visiting Rattlers. A layup by Young cut the Lady Lion lead to three with less than 30 seconds left, but Styles would ice the game with a pair of free throws. King was able to net a three as time expired to cut the final margin to two.
 
Southeastern will now take a break to celebrate Christmas. On Dec. 29, SLU will close out its non-conference schedule with a 6 p.m. game at Ole Miss. The game will be the return of SLU head coach Yolanda Moore to Oxford, where she was a three-time All-SEC forward for the Rebels and earned a spot in the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame.
 
The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and the Internet at www.LionSports.net.