Chargers hand Olive-Harvey 1st loss as Covarrubias hits game-winning FTs with :01.8 left

GALESBURG — The Sandburg women's basketball team handed Olive-Harvey its first loss of the season as the Chargers had an 8-0 run in the final minute, capped by Lillian Covarrubias' game-winning foul shots with 1.8 seconds left, in a 72-70 victory Saturday on Sophomore Day.

KEY MOMENTS
• The Chargers (21-9) led 36-31 at halftime and took their largest lead at 46-34 on Layni Dobbins' 3-pointer from the right corner in the middle stages of the third quarter. The Panthers, who came into the contest 28-0, scored 13 of the next 15 to tighten the gap and went into the fourth down 51-47.
• Olive-Harvey used a 12-3 run to take a 70-64 lead with 1:14 to go, but Sandburg kept the Panthers off the board the rest of the way. Covarrubias drilled a corner 3 with 1:00 left to cut the deficit in half, and Paige Huffman knocked down a trey with :13.5 remaining to tie it.

• After a Panthers travel on the ensuing possession, Covarrubias drew as foul with :01.8 to play on a drive toward the basket. The freshman guard calmly knocked down both free throws. The Panthers' desperation 25-footer at the buzzer was well off the mark as the Chargers knocked them from the ranks of the unbeaten.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
In addition to putting in the game-winning free throws, Covarrubias finished with 12 points while going 4 of 10 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc. She also contributed four assists and three steals against just two turnovers while coming off the bench.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Antonia Kisler: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
• Gabbie Vontz: 11 points, 4-9 FG
• Tiera Hall: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 5-7 FG

FOR THE PANTHERS
• Nakia Bardney: 29 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals
• Cashay Dixon: 15 points, 5 rebounds
• Khaniah Gardner: 11 points, 17 rebounds

SO LONG, SOPHOMORES
Saturday's contest was the final home game for Chargers sophomores Brook Pieper, Gabbie Vontz and Capre Ferguson. Ferguson started the contest as she made her first appearance since Jan. 7 because of a knee injury.

UP NEXT
Region 4 quarterfinals, 6 p.m. Thursday vs. Madison

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