DENTON, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by its chaotic final seconds, the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles escaped the North Texas Coliseum with a 74-73 victory over the North Texas Mean Green in a nonconference women’s basketball thriller on Thursday night.

The decisive sequence unfolded over the last three seconds, a whirlwind of fouls, timeouts, and pressure-packed free throws that ultimately saw Oral Roberts sophomore forward Kayten Donley sink two shots from the line to flip a one-point deficit into a one-point win.

North Texas, which led for over 36 minutes of game time, appeared to have secured the victory when Aysia Proctor drew a foul on a driving attempt with 3.1 seconds remaining and the Mean Green trailing 72-71. Proctor calmly made both free throws, putting the home team ahead 73-72 and sending a crowd of 1,231 into a frenzy.

Oral Roberts, out of timeouts, advanced the ball to midcourt and called a quick stoppage with 1.1 seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds play, Donley was fouled by North Texas’s Megan Nestor on a desperate catch-and-shoot attempt. With the clock reset to 1.1 seconds, Donley, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Bethany, Oklahoma, stepped to the line. She swished the first free throw to tie the game, then, after a North Texas timeout meant to ice her, drained the second to put the Golden Eagles back in front.

North Texas’s final heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing a remarkable comeback for Oral Roberts, which trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and was down 43-26 at halftime.

The Golden Eagles chipped away methodically in the second half, fueled by a swarming defense that forced 21 North Texas turnovers, converting them into 22 points. Oral Roberts recorded 13 steals and six blocks, with Donley contributing three of those blocks to go with her team-high 17 points.

The third quarter was the turning point. After a stagnant first half offensively, Oral Roberts erupted for 23 points in the period, outscoring North Texas by seven to cut the deficit to 59-52. The Golden Eagles continued their surge in the fourth, finally tying the game at 66 on a Gentry Baldwin three-pointer with 3:36 remaining, setting the stage for the frantic finish.

Anna Trusty joined Donley with 17 points for Oral Roberts, while Alana Shetlar provided a crucial spark off the bench with eight points. The Golden Eagles shot 45.8% from the field and a efficient 46.7% from three-point range.

North Texas was led by Megan Nestor’s 15 points and 15 rebounds, dominating the glass to a 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tiffany Hammond finished with 12 points and five assists, and Andi Schissler added 13 points. However, the Mean Green’s shooting went cold when it mattered most, finishing at 40% overall and 32.3% from deep. Their seven assists against 21 turnovers proved a critical failing.

The win pushes Oral Roberts to an even 6-6 on the season, providing momentum heading into holiday break before Summit League play begins. North Texas, which entered as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, falls to 6-5 and must regroup quickly before hosting Santa Clara on Sunday.

The game’s statistical oddity underscored its tight nature: Oral Roberts scored 74 points on 78 possessions (94.8 offensive rating), while North Texas scored 73 on 79 possessions (92.3 offensive rating). In the end, the thinnest of margins, secured at the free-throw line in the final second, made all the difference.