COROPOLIS, Pa. (Interstat) — In a tense Horizon League clash defined by defense and a dramatic final minute, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies snapped a four-game skid by edging the Robert Morris Colonials 61-58 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday afternoon at Charles L. Sewall Center.

The victory, secured by clutch free throws and critical defensive stops in the closing seconds, improved Oakland to 4-8 overall. Robert Morris, which entered the contest having won nine of its first 11 games, fell to 9-3. The result defied a national statistical projection that gave the Colonials an 87.1% probability of victory.

The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the final 25 seconds with Oakland clinging to a 59-58 lead. After a Robert Morris timeout, the Colonials’ Jada Lee turned the ball over under pressure from Oakland’s Makenzie Luehring. Luehring then drove the length of the court for a layup, extending the Golden Grizzlies’ lead to 61-58 with just 15 seconds remaining.

Robert Morris had two final chances to tie. Out of a timeout, Eva Levingston missed a tip-in attempt, and after Oakland called timeout, the Colonials forced a held ball with the possession arrow in their favor. With seven seconds left, Robert Morris inbounded to Noa Givon, but her pass was stolen by Oakland’s Jasmine Dupree-Hebert. Fouled immediately, Dupree-Hebert sank both free throws to seal the outcome with five seconds on the clock. A last-second heave by Givon was off the mark.

The contest was a defensive struggle throughout, with both teams enduring scoring droughts. Oakland’s ability to capitalize on Colonial mistakes proved decisive, as the Golden Grizzlies scored 20 points off 18 Robert Morris turnovers, compared to just six points off turnovers for the home team. Oakland also dominated inside, outscoring Robert Morris 32-22 in the paint.

Robert Morris was led by a monumental performance from Bailey Kuhns. The Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, native posted a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds in 34 minutes. Myriam Traore of Lognes, France, also recorded a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with three points and a block. Noa Givon of Ra’anana, Israel, added 10 points.

Oakland’s effort was more balanced, headlined by the playmaking of Makenzie Luehring. The Jackson, Wisconsin, guard played a game-high 38 minutes, scoring 17 points and dishing out eight assists while also coming up with three crucial steals. Lianna Baxter of Marinette, Wisconsin, contributed 13 points, and Angie Smith of Bolingbrook, Illinois, added 10 points, including a key layup with 21 seconds left that gave Oakland the lead for good. Dupree-Hebert, from Dayton, Minnesota, finished with seven points, four assists, and the game-sealing steals and free throws.

The game featured 10 lead changes and was tight from the opening tip. Robert Morris held a narrow 33-31 advantage at halftime, fueled by Kuhns’ 13 first-half points. Oakland stayed close by answering Colonial runs, notably with a 7-0 spurt late in the third quarter to tie the game at 44. The fourth quarter saw neither team lead by more than four points, setting the stage for the frantic finish.

Oakland, which had lost its previous four games by an average of 23 points, including a 97-54 defeat at Michigan on Dec. 21, found a winning formula with persistent defense and timely execution. Robert Morris, coming off a 79-29 rout of Point Park on Dec. 19, saw its five-game winning streak halted.

The Golden Grizzlies begin a stretch of three home games in their next four, starting with Fort Wayne on Jan. 2. Robert Morris opens its January conference schedule on the road at Milwaukee on Jan. 1. The announced attendance at the Sewall Center was 428.