MORROW, Ga. - - Fifth-year Caitlyn Ross' 3-pointer with six seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime while freshman Sarah Burton netted five of her 15 points in the extra session as UVA Wise took down Clayton State 69-64 in the season opener for both schools at the Loch Center Friday.

UVA Wise (1-0) trailed by six at 50-44 with 5:44 to play after Clayton State's (0-1) Deborrah Redmon sank a foul shot. Jamie Cluesman's team would use the charity stripe to claw back in it. Ross and fellow fifth-year Leah Kestner would sink two free throws each to make it a 50-48 affair with 3:50 to play.

The Lakers quickly pushed the lead back to five on a triple from Jada Alston before the Cavs scored the next five points to tie it. Kestner made two more foul shots to make it a 53-50 game before Burton drilled one of her two 3-pointers on the evening to tie it with 2:15 to play in regulation.

On the following possession, Redmon would complete a traditional 3-point play to again put the visitors down three.

The schools would trade empty possessions until Ross corralled a rebound with 18 ticks remaining. Cluesman then called timeout to advance the ball to the frontcourt to set up the game-tying play.

Ross would take a pass from Kaitlin Bailey and make her only 3-pointer of the game to tie the game. After a Clayton State timeout, the Lakers would be unable to get a good look at the basket, forcing the game to the extra stanza.

Both teams would score on their opening possession of overtime as Clayton State's Jasmyn Butts scored on a layup and Burton countered with a deep two-point bucket.

The offensive rebounding work of UVA Wise would prove pivotal on the ensuing possession. The Cavs would miss three shots before Burton eventually wound up with another offensive rebound; the guard was fouled and went to the line where she made two free throws to give her team a 60-58 lead.

The lead would be short-lived as Jadah White canned a 3-pointer off a Redmon assist to put the Lakers back up 61-60 with 2:52 remaining. The back-and-forth affair continued as a layup from Ross gave UVA Wise the lead back with 2:22 left.

After a defensive stop by the Cavs, Ross split a pair of free throws leaving her team in front 63-61 with 1:37 left. Clayton State tied the game with 60 seconds to go on a layup from Jasymn Burts only to see Burton grab an offensive rebound and get fouled on the next possession.

The freshman would make 1-of-2 at the line to leave the score 64-63 with 50 seconds to play.

Aayliah Reid of Clayton State would match Burton by making 1-of-2 foul shots on her end of the floor giving the ball back to the guests with the score knotted at 64 with 39 seconds left.

Following a timeout, UVA Wise would get the ball inside to Katlin Burger. The junior would make a nifty post move, score at the rim and get fouled to give her club back the lead. Burger completed the 3-point play and after a defensive stop by the Cavs, Burton made two free throws to ice the contest.

The final shot was part of a big game for Burger. The forward led all players with 17 points as she added eight rebounds. Burger and her teammates controlled the glass, UVA Wise won the battle of the boards 50-to-26. A big reason why was Kestner, the Chilhowie, Va. product grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds in the win while adding eight points.

Ross tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists as UVA Wise won its season opener for the second consecutive season. A year ago, the Cavs defeated the Lakers 72-65 (OT) in Wise on opening night.

The Cavs overcame 30 turnovers by holding the Lakers to 30.9 percent shooting from the floor.

Clayton State, who entered the game receiving votes in the opening D2SIDA Southeast Region Poll, was led by Waite's 11 points.

UVA Wise will look to start 2-0 tomorrow at 1:30 when the team wraps up the South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Challenge when the team faces Flagler. The Saints were defeated 82-63 by Anderson Friday.