STONY BROOK, N.Y. — During a team huddle in the final minute, Kaela Hilaire vowed to her teammates that Saturday's game would not head to overtime.

Hilaire then ensured the extra period would not be required.

She produced two steals in the final 20 seconds and the Stony Brook women's basketball team held on for a 52-50 victory against New Hampshire at Island Federal Arena.

The Seawolves earned their 20th straight victory, extending the nation's second-longest winning streak.

Stony Brook improved to 23-1 overall and 11-0 in the America East.

The overall win total matches the most victories in a season in head coach Caroline McCombs' six seasons at the program's helm.

Stony Brook also clinched a first-round home game in the America East tournament with Saturday's win.

With Gonzaga's 70-60 loss at Saint Mary's on Saturday night, the Seawolves now tout the longest winning streak in the nation (20).

Like the first meeting between Stony Brook and New Hampshire, Saturday's game was tightly contested.

UNH held a 39-37 lead  entering the fourth quarter. And the teams were deadlocked at 48 until Oksana Gouchie-Provencher broke the tie by converting the second of two free throws with 96 seconds remaining.

Still trailing 49-48, New Hampshire had possession and called timeout with 29.3 seconds remaining. Hilaire then came up huge when the teams returned to the floor, stripping the ball from Ashley Storey to give possession back to the Seawolves.

Hilaire, subsequently fouled, drained the second of two free throws with 19.8 seconds to go for a two-point cushion and another timeout from UNH.

Hilaire then produced another steal and was fouled with 4.6 seconds to go. She sank two free throws for a 52-48 lead that secured the win.

"Just instinct," Hilaire said. "That's what we practice day in and day out. And that's what coach preaches all day — defense, defense. Defense wins games."

Said McCombs: "In the timeout, she said, 'We are not going to overtime.' She stepped up huge and made a big play for us on the ball."
 
Stony Brook swept the season series from New Hampshire. The Seawolves topped the Wildcats in overtime in Durham, N.H., on Jan. 11.

"We knew going into this game that New Hampshire is a tough matchup and opponent for us," McCombs said.

On Saturday, Hilaire led the Seawolves with 21 points. India Pagan followed with 12.

Cheyenne Clark produced four offensive rebounds, giving her 102 for the season. That moved Clark into the top 10 in program history for a single season, passing Erica Bascom, who had 100 during in 1994-95.

Next up: No. 9 Joan Gandolf with 103 in 1993-94.

Stony Brook returns to action Wednesday against Binghamton at Island Federal Arena.

"Every team is going to give us their best," Hilaire said.