HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game that required two extra periods to decide, Nevaeh Zavala converted two critical free throws with no time remaining in double overtime to lift the High Point Panthers to an 85-83 victory over the Yale Bulldogs in a nonconference women’s basketball thriller Saturday at Qubein Arena.

The dramatic finish capped a marathon contest that saw Yale, which trailed by as many as 11 points in the second quarter, mount a furious fourth-quarter rally to force overtime, only to see the Panthers ultimately prevail before a crowd of 954.

The game’s final sequence was set up after Yale’s Ciniya Moore, who poured in a game-high 33 points, tied the score at 83 with two free throws of her own with one second left in the second overtime. On the ensuing inbounds play, Yale’s Marisa Chapman was called for a foul on Zavala as the Panthers attempted a full-court pass. With the clock showing 0.0, Zavala, a 6-foot sophomore from Plano, Texas, stepped to the line and calmly sank both free throws for the final margin.

Zavala finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, playing a pivotal role throughout for High Point, which improved to 11-2. Aaliyah Collins led the Panthers with 23 points, while Macy Spencer added 15.

The contest appeared headed for a different conclusion after Yale’s remarkable comeback in regulation. The Bulldogs, who entered the fourth quarter trailing 52-41, exploded for 24 points in the final period. A driving layup by Collins gave High Point a 65-63 lead with under a minute to play, but Yale’s Kiley Capstraw answered with a pull-up jumper with five seconds left to knot the score and force the first overtime, deadlocked at 65.

Both teams scored eight points in the initial extra period, with Moore hitting a tough turnaround jumper with 13 seconds left to tie it at 73 and force a second overtime.

In the second overtime, Yale took a brief lead on a Mary Meng tip-in with 1:03 left, making it 82-80. Zavala then buried a clutch 3-pointer from the wing with 50 seconds remaining to put High Point back ahead 83-82, setting the stage for the frantic final minute and Moore’s tying free throws.

Moore’s 33-point performance came on a heavy workload of 48 minutes. The 5-foot-10 guard from Bradenton, Florida, also contributed three blocks. She was supported by Luisa Vydrova, who scored 17 points, and Capstraw, who posted a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Meng dominated the glass for Yale with 15 rebounds to go with six points and three blocks.

Despite the loss, which dropped Yale to 4-9, the Bulldogs showcased resilience, battling back from a double-digit deficit against a High Point team that was a heavy favorite according to predictive metrics. The teams were remarkably even in several statistical categories, each finishing with 44 points in the paint and 22 points off turnovers.

High Point built its early lead with a strong second quarter, outscoring Yale 21-12 to take a 36-27 advantage into halftime. The Panthers maintained that cushion through the third quarter before Yale’s fourth-quarter surge changed the complexion of the game.

The Panthers now look ahead to their Big South Conference opener against UNC Asheville on Dec. 31. Yale, after a challenging nonconference slate, begins Ivy League play at home against Brown on Jan. 3.