ERIE, Pa. -- Beka Bellhy hit a jumper from five feet out off an assist from Taylor Cortazzo following an in-bounds play to send the Presidents to a 71-69 overtime win over Rochester Institute of Technology in the championship game of the Penn State Behrend Tip-Off Tournament.

With the win, the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team begins the season 2-0 for the second time in the last three seasons. RIT drops to 1-1.

The two teams ended regulation knotted at 62-62. The Tigers struck first in the overtime period with a jumper by Merissa Maiorano 1:30 into the extra period. A pair of free throws by Valerie Dunlap 56 seconds later tied the game, 64-64.

Following a missed RIT free throw, Dunlap corralled the rebound and Cortazzo converted on a layup assisted by Danni Medovich with 2:08 to play. Two free throws by RIT with 1:32 to play tied the game, 66-66, but Medovich knocked down a three-pointer from the wing after Dunlap found her open from the top of the key, 69-66.

Each team had another possession and RIT converted on their second opportunity, adding a point with 25 seconds on a good free throw. Following a W&J turnover, the Tigers scored in the paint with 17 seconds left to tie the game, 69-69, prompting a Presidents' time out.

With W&J in-bounding the ball from the sideline near midcourt, Cortazzo received the pass cutting into the front court and drove to the basket drawing the defense to collapse on her and leaving Bellhy wide open in the paint for the easy two points and win. A last ditch three-quarters court heave by RIT fell short and the Presidents preserved the 71-69 victory.

W&J led by eight, 35-27, in the first half thanks to a strong start that included five three-pointers, two each from Cortazzo and Alexa DelGreco. The biggest lead of the game for either team was 11 points by W&J at the 11:21 mark of the first half following a DelGreco triple, 23-12.

RIT closed the gap early in the second half and the two teams played back-and-forth basketball the rest of the way. A jumper with 2:31 left gave the Tigers the lead, 59-57, and a layup 40 seconds later stretched the lead to four points. Dunlap knocked down the first of two free throws and then got the rebound on the missed second one leading to a Medovich layup to make it a one-point game, 61-60, with 1;22 left in regulation.

The Tigers hit the first of two free throws and then missed the second, but hauled in the offensive board and drew a quick foul from W&J. The front-end of the one-and-one was missed and rebounded by Cortazzo with 21 seconds left that led to a game-tying layup by Medovich with 13 seconds to play, forcing overtime.

Dunlap led the Presidents with 17 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, while also adding four assists, earning tournament MVP honors in the process. Medovich contributed 16 points, 10 in the second half and overtime, plus six rebounds and four assists. Cortazzo was also in double figures with 13 points, eight rebounds and team highs of five assists and three steals.

W&J returns to action with the 2014-15 home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. against Allegheny. It will be the Presidents' Toys for Tots Game and anyone that brings a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Toys for Tots will be admitted for free.