MISSOULA, Mont. (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats, the Weber State Wildcats found a way to reverse the script in a hostile environment. Led by a career-high 28 points from Antoniette Emma-Nnopu, Weber State outlasted the Montana Lady Griz 86-79 in overtime in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball thriller Saturday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena.

The victory avenged a heartbreaking 51-50 home loss to Montana just a month prior and snapped a three-game skid for the Wildcats, who improved to 9-18 overall. Montana, which had won two of its last three, fell to 7-19.

The game’s defining sequence, and perhaps the season’s turning point for Weber State, unfolded in the final frantic minute of regulation. Trailing 69-67 with 19 seconds remaining, the Wildcats inbounded the ball to Emma-Nnopu. The junior from Geelong, Australia, drove the lane and finished a contested layup to tie the game, sending a jolt through the crowd of 2,373.

Montana had a chance to win it in the final seconds, drawing a foul on a 3-point attempt by Jocelyn Land with four ticks left. Land, an 80% free-throw shooter, made the first two to put the Lady Griz up 71-69 but missed the third. Weber State’s Sydney White secured the defensive rebound, and the Wildcats called timeout to set up a final play, but White’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer was off target, forcing overtime.

Weber State seized control from the opening tip of the extra period, scoring the first seven points. Emma-Nnopu, who played with relentless aggression throughout, drew fouls and converted four consecutive free throws. Lanae Billy, who finished with 23 points, added a pair from the line, and White buried a critical 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 76-71. Montana, plagued by turnovers in the overtime, never recovered, getting no closer than three points the rest of the way.

The Wildcats’ efficiency in the extra session was a stark contrast to the back-and-forth battle of the first 40 minutes. Weber State shot 17 of 26 from the free-throw line in the game, but was a perfect 6 for 6 in overtime. Montana, meanwhile, committed four of its 14 total turnovers in the five-minute overtime period.

Emma-Nnopu’s performance was a monumental bounce-back after being held to five points in a loss at Montana State three days earlier. She added six rebounds, two assists and a block in 32 minutes, attacking the rim consistently and drawing nine fouls. Her backcourt mate, Billy from Shiprock, New Mexico, provided crucial scoring bursts, hitting five 3-pointers. Hannah Robbins of Phoenix orchestrated the offense with 10 assists to go with seven rebounds.

Montana was led by a balanced effort. Avery Waddington of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, posted 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Rae Ehrman of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, scored 13 points with six rebounds, while Mack Konig of Milton, Canada, and Aby Shubert of Kasson, Minnesota, each chipped in 12 points. Konig also dished out five assists.

The game was a tale of shooting precision versus volume. Weber State’s 49% shooting from the field (27 of 55) and 45% from 3-point range (13 of 29) ultimately overcame Montana’s significant advantages in rebounding and second-chance opportunities. The Lady Griz attempted 11 more shots but made the same number of field goals, finishing at 41% overall (27 of 66). Both teams made 12 3-pointers.

Weber State built an early 17-13 lead after the first quarter behind Billy’s outside shooting, but Montana responded with a strong second quarter to take a 30-30 tie into halftime. The third quarter was a shootout, with the Wildcats edging it 21-20 to hold a slim 51-50 advantage heading to the fourth. The lead changed hands eight times in a tense final period that featured five ties before Emma-Nnopu’s clutch basket forced overtime.

The win provides a vital boost for Weber State as it heads into the final week of the regular season. The Wildcats will host Idaho State on Feb. 28 and Portland State on March 2. Montana, which saw its hopes for a late-season rally dampened, hits the road for games at Sacramento State on Feb. 26 and Portland State on Feb. 28 before returning home to face Northern Colorado on March 2.