WATERLOO, Ont. - Fourth-year forward Julia Curran scored a game-high 27 points to help lead the Western women's basketball team to their first win of the season in a 68-65 overtime thriller against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

With the win, the Mustangs improve to a 1-1 record early in the season following a loss to the Guelph Gryphons on the road earlier in the week. The loss gives the Golden Hawks an identical 1-1 record on the season as they look to climb above .500 later this week against Carleton.

Curran, who has proven to be a go-to scoring option throughout her career with the purple and white, chipped in five rebounds and a pair of steals in the victory. Three of Curran's points came just in time for Western, hitting a clutch three with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Laura Graham also scored in double figures for the Mustangs, totaling 21 points, five rebounds, and dominating on the defensive end of the floor with three steals on the night.

It was Graham who sparked the offence for Western to begin the game, knocking down an early three to set the tone for the Mustangs. The game remained a back and forth affair as Laurier soon found their footing, but a spark off the bench from first-year Mustang Brett Fischer allowed Western to head into the second quarter with a 20-14 advantage.

Graham continued to facilitate the offence for the purple and white into the second frame, penetrating the Golden Hawks' defence and earning points in the paint to extend the lead for the Mustangs. However, turnovers quickly began to feed the Laurier offence, allowing them to put together an impressive scoring run to end the half as Western found themselves trailing 29-26 at halftime.

However, constant energy on the boards from Western's Debora Kamba allowed the Mustangs to regain the lead momentarily. But after a number of lead changes throughout the frame, Western found themselves down three points with just seconds remaining, setting up Curran's first and only three of the night to send the game to overtime.

Curran's shot seemed to fuel the Mustangs' overtime attack, as Graham hounded Laurier defensively and eventually knocked down a final free throw to seal the deal and earn Western the 68-65 victory.

The Mustangs will be back in action this Friday, November 2, where they will host the Queen's Gaels for their first meeting of the season. The game is scheduled to tip off at 1:30 P.M. EST and fans can catch the action live on OUA.tv.