COCHRAN, Ga. –  Faulkner missed two opportunities in the waning seconds of overtime on its way to a 74-70 loss to Middle Georgia State Saturday. With the Knights up 72-70 and seven seconds remaining, Faulkner missed a look that would have tied the game. After Middle Georgia secured the rebound, the Lady Eagles committed the defensive foul to extend the game. Middle obliged in keeping hope alive for Faulkner as the Knights missed both free throw attempts.

Faulkner rebounded the second miss and worked its way into a chance at the free throw line with three seconds left on the clock. The Lady Eagles missed both ends of the bonus opportunity before Joy Sadler iced the game with two extra shots of her own.

The sequence came after Megan Wilkinson (SO/Lumberton, Texas) buried a three with 52 seconds left on the clock to cut the deficit to 72-70. Faulkner led most of the way throughout regulation and held an 11-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

The Lady Eagle offense slowed in the period as Faulkner managed only nine points in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Middle Georgia answered with a 20-point quarter that culminated with a 6-0 run.

Olivia Colson (SO/Thompson's Station, Tenn.) hit a shot from the paint with 2:46 remaining on the fourth quarter clock to put Faulkner up 65-69. That proved to be the final bucket of the period for the Lady Eagles. Middle got a pair of Jessica Belcher free throws with 2:11 remaining. Joy Sadler knocked down a shot with 50 seconds left on the clock to narrow it to 65-63. Jurnee Powell then hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to tie it. Faulkner got one more look at it as the buzzer sounded but could not convert the shot.

Middle Georgia won the rebounding battle 42-31 while helping to force 19 Faulkner turnovers. Those miscues paved the way for the Knights to score 21 points off turnovers. While Faulkner shot markedly higher percentages than Middle from the floor and from beyond the arc, the Knights managed to hoist up 73 shots in the game in addition to finding success on 15 of 19 free throw attempts.

The math turned out to be enough to give Faulkner its second SSAC overtime loss in the state of Georgia this month.

Belcher topped all scorers with 25 points to go along with five rebounds and seven assists. Destiny Kincaide added 14 points while Sadler scored 11 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Rykia Pennamon added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Faulkner drew most of its offensive output from Channing Gafford (JR/Athens, Ala.) and Ashlyn Adkins (JR/Locust Fork, Ala.). Gafford scored a career high 23 points while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out five assists. Adkins notched 22 points as well as five assists. Colson finished with 10 points and seven boards.

Faulkner (14-8, 4-4 SSAC) return to action Thursday when they host No. 9 Bethel at 5:30 p.m.