FRANKLIN,Mass.- The Dean College Bulldogs women's basketball team erased a double-digit fourth quarter deficit, eventually taking the lead in the closing moments of regulation, but eventually fell short in overtime, 86-83 to Mitchell College in non-league action on Satuday at Pieri Gym.

Entering the fourth quarter down by nine, the Bulldogs saw their deficit balloon to 13 before they found ther footing. Trailing 74-61 with under six minutes to play, Dean rattled off 14 straight points, 10 of which came from senior guard Tori Viau (Johnston, R.I.) to take a 75-74 lead with 39 seconds to play. Sophomore Abi Boutin (Rocky Hill, Conn.) tacked on a free throw with seven ticks remaining to give Dean a two point advantage, but Mitchell tied the game in the closing seconds on a layup from N'Tai Teague that hung on the front rim before dropping in to send the game to overtime.

Viau hit a three to open the overtime scoring, and two free throws from Kendrah Doane (New Salem, Mass.) pushed the Bulldog advantage to five a minute into OT. Mitchell stormed back, scoring nine straight to take a four point lead with 15 seconds to play. After a Kaesta Sandy (Everett, Mass.) layup closed the gap to two, Dean had one final chance off a missed free throw, but couldn't get a shot off to try to tie the game.

Viau scored 32 to lead the Bulldogs and all scorers, her second game of the season topping 30 points. Doane and senior Alexandria Paquet (Santa Maria, Calif.) both scored 16 points, and both registered double-doubles with Doane notching 10 boards and Paquet collecting 20. 

Dean (5-4) hosted Great Notheast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Mitchell in a non-conference capacity. The teams will square off again in the second semester for an official conference game. The Bulldogs are off until after the holiday break when they travel to Nichols on January 2nd for a 5:30 tip-off.