FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team erased a 19-point deficit and outlasted Fort Wayne 88-85 in overtime in a Horizon League thriller Monday night at Gates Sports Center.

The victory, secured before an announced crowd of 582, snapped a five-game losing streak for the Norse and improved their record to 4-11 overall. The Mastodons, who entered as overwhelming favorites with a 93% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, fell to 9-5.

The game’s defining narrative was a tale of two halves and a monumental comeback. Fort Wayne dominated the opening 20 minutes, fueled by a blistering offensive display. The Mastodons shot 54% from the field in the first half, including 7 of 16 from three-point range, and built a commanding 48-34 lead at intermission. Lili Krasovec and Alana Nelson were instrumental, combining for 28 first-half points as Fort Wayne seemed poised for a comfortable home win.

Northern Kentucky’s offense, by contrast, sputtered with 24 turnovers in the game, but a dramatic shift began after halftime. The Norse tightened their defense, holding Fort Wayne to just nine points in the third quarter on 3-of-18 shooting. That defensive stand provided the foundation for the comeback.

The Norse chipped away throughout the second half, with Karina Bystry and Mya Meredith leading the charge. Bystry, a guard from Englewood, Tennessee, finished with a game-high 25 points in 42 minutes, while Meredith, of Newport, Kentucky, added 18 points. Their persistence paid off in the final minute of regulation.

Trailing 75-72 with under 10 seconds to play, Northern Kentucky’s Taysha Rushton, who scored 15 points, hit a clutch 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game and force overtime, completing a 26-point fourth-quarter outburst for the Norse.

In the extra period, the teams traded blows. Fort Wayne’s Destiny Macharia, who had 12 points, hit a step-back three to give the Mastodons an 85-82 lead with just over two minutes remaining. Northern Kentucky responded with a driving layup from Bystry. After a defensive stop, the Norse took the lead for good when Meredith converted a tough layup with eight seconds left, putting Northern Kentucky up 86-85.

Fort Wayne had a final chance, but Alana Nelson’s driving attempt in the lane missed. Northern Kentucky’s Kamora Morgan secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and calmly sank both free throws with three seconds left to seal the improbable victory.

Despite the loss, Fort Wayne had standout performances. Nelson, from Springport, Michigan, scored 21 points and grabbed several key defensive rebounds. Krasovec added 19 points in just 23 minutes of action.

Statistically, Northern Kentucky’s remarkable shooting from beyond the arc was the ultimate difference-maker. The Norse connected on 15 of 26 three-point attempts, a 57.7% clip, which offset their turnover woes. Fort Wayne shot 11 of 31 from deep. The Norse also edged the Mastodons in offensive efficiency, posting a rating of 102.4 on 86 possessions compared to Fort Wayne’s 98.2 on 87 trips.

The most critical sequence of the game was undoubtedly the final minute of regulation. After Fort Wayne’s Jordan Reid made two free throws to extend the lead to three, Northern Kentucky, without a timeout, pushed the ball upcourt. Rushton’s game-tying three-pointer not only rescued the Norse from defeat but also shattered the Mastodons’ momentum, carrying Northern Kentucky’s surge into an overtime period they would ultimately control.

Northern Kentucky looks to build on this momentum when it hosts IU Indy on Friday. Fort Wayne aims to regroup as it opens a road trip at Oakland on the same day.