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KENT, Ohio – Rachel Mendelsohn's three-pointer with two seconds on the clock lifted host Kent State past the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team, 75-74, in overtime on Sunday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center.

EKU's loss came despite another stellar effort from senior Marie Carpenter, who finished with a game-high 26 points and knocked down a jumper with five seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

The Lady Colonels led by as many as four in OT, but Kent State tied it, 72-72, on a layup by Larissa Lurken with 1:30 on the clock. On Eastern's ensuing possession, Carpenter was fouled and converted both free throws to give the visitors a two-point advantage, 74-72; however, that lead only set the stage for Mendelsohn's heroics in the waning seconds of the game.

With the loss, EKU drops to 1-1 on the season. Kent State improves to 1-0.

Following a 27-point performance at Miami (Ohio) on Friday, Carpenter finished the opening road trip of the season with 53 points.

Three Lady Colonels recorded career-highs in points in Sunday's loss: senior Pilar Walker (16) and sophomores Shelly Harper (14) and Jasmine Stafford (10). Harper finished one rebound shy of a double-double, grabbing a team-best nine boards for the second consecutive game.

Mendelsohn paced Kent State with 21 points, while Montia Johnson contributed a double-double for the Golden Flashes (15 points, 10 rebounds).

Kent State led EKU, 25-22, with 5:52 to play in the first half; however, the Lady Colonels went on a 12-2 run to close the half and take a 34-27 lead at the break. Stafford spurred the late charge with a three-pointer, as she and fellow sophomores Harper and Miranda Maples combined for 24 of EKU's 34 first-half points.

Carpenter took over in the second half, knocking down three three-pointers and scoring 21 of her 26 points in the second 20 minutes of regulation. She also came up with several clutch shots. With the game knotted, 56-56, and less than two minutes to play, she sank a jumper to give the Lady Colonels the lead. After Kent State tied it again with just under a minute remaining, she knocked down another go-ahead jump shot. Then, with the Lady Colonels trailing by two and less than ten seconds on the clock, she forced overtime with her third bucket in the final two minutes of regulation.

EKU will play its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 14, versus Alabama A&M. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.