NEW LONDON, Conn. — Senior forward Regan Keyter (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) made a layup to tie the game for the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team with 26 seconds left, but a free throw with one tick on the clock was enough to give host Connecticut College a 60-59 victory this afternoon at Luce Field House in New London, Conn.

The Lyons dip to 2-5 on the season, while the Camels improve to 4-3.

Wheaton was 6-11 (54.5%) from three-point range as part of a total 39.7% (23-58) shooting effort. The Lyons also held a 40-31 rebounding advantage, but turned the ball over 23 times. Connecticut College committed 19 miscues as well, while shooting just 34.6% (18-52) from the field, including 6-17 (35.3) from long range. The Camels were the beneficiary of 23 free throws and made 18 of them compared to just nine free throws for their guests. Wheaton made seven free tries.

Keyter finished with her second straight double-double and third consecutive effort with 11 or more rebounds with 11 to go with 13 points. Junior forward Cheyenne Colbert (Brookline, N.H.) led the Lyons with 17 points on 7-12 from the floor and was 3-5 from three-point range to go with five boards, a steal and an assist. Senior guard Kiki Walters (Fleetwood, Pa.) netted 16 points, pulled down four rebounds, came up with two steals and handed out a game-high six assists. 

First year guard Sofia Tavarez (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) led all scorers with 21 points, including 11-13 from the line to pace Connecticut College and added two rebounds, a pair of assists and a game-best six steals in 25 minutes off the bench. Sophomore guard Valeria Santiago Dedós (Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico) scored 15 points on 6-12 shooting to go with a rebound and an assist and junior guard Mia Xerras (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed with 11 points, three assists, a rebound and a steal.

Keyter knocked down a jumper to give Wheaton a 53-49 lead with 3:56 left in the game, but the Camels ripped off eight straight points, including the last four from Tavarez, over the next 2:15 to take a 57-53 margin. A free throw from Xerras with 43 seconds to go made it 58-55 for the home team. Colbert scored on a layup 10 seconds later for the Lyons, before Xerra was one of two from the line again to give Connecticut College a two-point lead at 59-57 with 31 seconds showing on the fourth quarter clock. Keyter scored right away on a layup to pull Wheaton even at 59-59 with 26 seconds remaining in the regulation. The Camels milked the clock on the  ensuing possession before Tavarez was fouled with just one second glowing on the clock. She made the first try, before missing the second as time expired with a 60-59 result for the Camels.

Connecticut College raced out to a 13-4 lead, paced by six points from Santiago Dedós, in the opening quarter of play. The Lyons closed the period with the final five points, including a three-pointer from sophomore guard Daniella MacDonald (Newtown, Pa.) to bring Wheaton within 13-9 at the end of the quarter.

The Lyons used the late run to feed the momentum of an 11-0 blitz to open the second quarter, led by six points from Colbert, to give them a 20-13 advantage with 6:08 to play in the quarter. The Camels chipped away and reclaimed the lead after putting together an 11-3 stretch, including five points from Santiago Dedós, to give them a 24-23 edge at the 3:10 mark. Wheaton responded with seven unanswered points, capped by a triple from Colbert to give the Lyons a 30-24 cushion heading into the break. 

Wheaton scored seven of the first 10 points of the third quarter, fueled by five points from Walters, to take its largest lead of the game at 37-27 with 7:07 left in the quarter. Connecticut College punched back again with 12 straight points, highlighted by seven from Tavarez, to give the home team a 39-37 lead with 3:32 showing on the third quarter clock. Tavarez later hit a pair of free throws to make it 43-39, before Keyter converted the last points of the quarter with a layup to cut the deficit to 43-41 for the Lyons.

Wheaton went on a 10-2 run to begin the final quarter behind five points from Keyter to take a 51-45 margin with 5:56 to play in the game. 

The Lyons return to the hardwood on Wednesday, December 3 when they head to Weston, Mass. to take on Regis College for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off, while the Camels travel to Framingham, Mass. on the same day to play Framingham State University at 6:00 p.m.