MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — In a game defined by defense and decisive plays in the final minute, the Saint John’s Red Storm secured a hard-fought 73-66 victory over the Marquette Golden Eagles in a Big East women’s basketball contest Monday night at the Bradley Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,602, saw Saint John’s improve to 12-3 overall, while Marquette fell to 8-5. The outcome defied pregame analytics, as Marquette entered with a projected win probability of over 76 percent according to Interstat’s ELO system.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s closing 30 seconds. Holding a precarious 66-64 lead, Saint John’s saw Marquette’s Halle Vice grab an offensive rebound and convert a putback layup to tie the game with 27 seconds remaining. The Red Storm immediately inbounded to guard Jailah Donald, who was fouled by Vice on the drive with 23 seconds left.

Donald, a freshman from Inglewood, California, calmly sank both free throws to restore a two-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Marquette’s Lee Volker attempted a potential go-ahead 3-pointer, but it was emphatically blocked by Saint John’s forward Kylie Lavelle. The loose ball was secured by Saint John’s Beautiful Waheed, who was fouled with nine seconds left. Waheed, a Milwaukee native playing in her hometown, made both free throws to ice the game, extending the lead to four and effectively sealing the outcome.

The contest was a defensive struggle marked by nearly identical shooting percentages from the field—both teams made 28 field goals—but a stark disparity at the free-throw line proved pivotal. Saint John’s capitalized on its opportunities, making 15 of 21 attempts, while Marquette managed only 4 of 8. The Red Storm also won the possession battle, scoring 73 points on 72 trips for an offensive rating of 101.4, compared to Marquette’s 66 points on 70 possessions for a 94.6 rating.

Saint John’s established control early, leading 16-14 after a first quarter that featured eight combined turnovers. The Red Storm extended their advantage to 36-32 at halftime, thanks in part to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Shaulana Wagner. Marquette kept pace throughout the third, trailing 53-50 entering the final period, setting the stage for the tense finish.

Balance was key for Saint John’s, which placed five scorers in double figures. Waheed led the way with 14 points, while Brooke Moore added 13, Donald scored 12, and Daniela Abies and Wagner each contributed 11. Wagner, a guard from Detroit, also orchestrated the offense with a game-high nine assists.

Marquette was led by Jaidynn Mason’s 14 points. Vice finished with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Skylar Forbes added 13 points. The Golden Eagles’ defense was active, recording seven steals and six blocks, but they were ultimately undone by 11 turnovers and their inability to convert at the stripe.

The game was a bounce-back performance for Saint John’s, which suffered a lopsided 85-48 loss at Villanova in its previous outing on Dec. 22. Marquette had won three of its last four, including an 86-43 victory over Truman State on Dec. 20.

Both teams open the new year with conference play on Thursday. Saint John’s returns home to face DePaul, while Marquette travels to face Xavier. The two teams will meet again in Queens, New York, on Jan. 21.