PURCHASE, N.Y. - It is not how you start, it is how you finish!

That was the motto of the night for the Purchase College women's basketball team, as the squad overcame a 16-point deficit to best St. Joseph's University-Long Island in overtime.

In fact, out of a possible 45 minutes in the contest, the Panthers lead for just two minutes and 22 seconds. But that didn't matter as the hosts prevailed in the end, 50-49.

With the result, the Blue and Orange moved to 7-8 overall and 6-4 in the Skyline Conference. For the Golden Eagles, they dropped to 8-7 and 4-6, respectively.

To begin the night, it was a slow start for the hosts as they trailed at halftime, 28-16.

Following the break, the guests extended their advantage to 16-points, 34-18, midway through the third quarter.

By the end of the frame, they still lead by 13 points.

Even still, Purchase did not quit on the night. As a result, over the 10-minute fourth quarter, they slowly began to rally back.

Eventually with just three seconds remaining, the Panthers took their first lead of the night thanks to a pair of free throws from Charlize Giles (SO/Yonkers, NY), 44-42.

However, a buzzer-beating layup from the Golden Eagles then sent the contest to overtime.

In overtime, the action continued to fluctuate even as the hosts gained their biggest lead of the night at three points.

In the end though, a free throw from Jamyra Mccray (FY/Brooklyn, NY) put the hosts in front, 50-49, with just 1.3 seconds remaining.

From there, St. Joseph's inbounded chance was tipped away as the final horn sounded.

Overall, the Blue and Orange shot 27.6 percent overall, while the guests tallied a 28.8 percent mark.

While Purchase lost the rebounding and turnover battles, they earned the win with physicality as they drew more than double the amount of free throws.

Individually, Giles was the only Panther in double figures as she finished with 11 points in just nine minutes. 

Charlee Neb (SR/Longmont, CO) chipped in nine points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists, while Tvisha Sivaramakrishnan (SO/White Plains, NY) added eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Up next for the squad is more home Skyline action as the team hosts USMMA on January 17th at 2 p.m.