MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University women's basketball team earned its first Mid-South Conference win of the year Thursday night as Tanit Calsapeu hit the game-winning layup with .5 seconds on the clock. Calsapeu led all scorers with 22 points on the night and provided the late game heroics for the 69-67 win over Pikeville.

Both teams came out on fire offensively in the first quarter, however Life U held the slight edge 21-20 after the first ten minutes. The Running Eagles finished 45% from the floor as the Bears were an even 50%. Life U started to break away in the second quarter shooting a season-high 61.54% (8-for-13) from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc to lead 40-31 at the half.

The Bears cut the lead to three after a 19-13 advantage in the third quarter, however the Running Eagles still led 53-50. The fourth quarter saw both teams fight for their first MSC win of the season, as a layup from Collins and three from Santiago put Life U ahead 58-50 in the first minute of action. Another three from Santiago and a layup from Calsapeu gave the Running Eagles an 11-point lead, 63-52, with 6:14 on the clock. An 8-0 run from the Bears brought the game to within three, 63-60 with 3:14 left in the game. Good offensive possessions saw the Running Eagles extend their lead to five, 67-62 with 2:19 on the clock, however the Bears answered with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 67. A missed free-throw and turnover from Pikeville gave Life U the ball with five seconds on the clock. Calsapeu took the inbound and drove straight to the lane for the layup as the clock stopped with .5 seconds. The layup secured the first MSC win for the Running Eagles 69-67.

Pikeville finished the game 24-for-49 (34.8%) from the floor, 4-for-17 (23.5%) from three and 15-for-17 (88.2%) from the free-throw line. They added 34 points in the paint and 20 points off 19 Life U turnovers. The Bears finished with 46 total rebounds and 22 offensive that produced 19 second chance points. They added eight steals.

Life U finished 29-for-64 (45.3%) from the floor and were 8-for-19 (42.1%) from beyond the arc. The two percentages both mark season-highs for the program. The Running Eagles converted 42 points in the paint and 18 points off of 18 turnovers from the Bears. Life U totaled 39 rebounds with 14 assists and eight steals.

Individually for the Running Eagles, Calsapeu finished with 22 points, six rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists with a 4-for-6 showing from behind the arc. Lenise Santiago added 12 points with a pair of rebounds and pair of assists. 

The women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, December 4, when they host the University of the Cumberlands inside the Eagles' Nest at 2 PM.