WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — In a marathon contest that stretched the limits of endurance and will, the Virginia women’s basketball team outlasted Wake Forest 109-103 in a triple-overtime thriller on Thursday night at Joel Memorial Coliseum.

The Atlantic Coast Conference battle, witnessed by 1,178 fans, required 55 minutes of game time to decide a winner, featuring 18 ties and 17 lead changes. It was the Cavaliers’ resilience in the final extra period, fueled by the backcourt duo of Kymora Johnson and Gabby White, that finally secured the victory after Wake Forest guard Milan Brown’s heroic efforts had repeatedly extended the game.

Virginia improved to 15-6 overall, while Wake Forest fell to 12-10.

The game’s defining sequence, and perhaps its most critical moment, arrived in the final minute of the third overtime with the score knotted at 103. Wake Forest’s Emily Johns committed a turnover with nine seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Virginia’s Johnson drew a foul from Milan Brown, sending her to the free-throw line with a chance to break the tie. Johnson, a Charlottesville native who played a game-high 54 minutes, calmly sank both free throws to put Virginia ahead 105-103.

Wake Forest’s ensuing inbounds play resulted in another foul, this time sending Johnson back to the line with just over a second left. She again converted both attempts, stretching the lead to four and effectively sealing the outcome. Johnson finished with 26 points and eight assists, embodying Virginia’s relentless persistence.

The Cavaliers had to survive multiple near-defeats to reach that point. At the end of regulation, with the score tied at 76, Wake Forest’s Grace Oliver was fouled on a 3-point attempt with six-tenths of a second left. Oliver made the first two free throws to give the Demon Deacons a two-point lead but missed the third, allowing Virginia to force the first overtime at 78-78.

The drama only intensified in the first overtime. Trailing by three with 13 seconds left, Virginia’ Caitlin Weimar scored inside and was fouled. She missed the potential game-tying free throw, but Wake Forest’s Mary Carter turned the ball over on the rebound, giving Virginia one final chance. Kymora Johnson’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer missed, sending the game to a second overtime tied at 84.

In the second overtime, Wake Forest built a 95-89 lead with just over a minute remaining after a Mary Carter 3-pointer. Virginia responded with a 6-0 run, capped by two Weimar free throws with one second left, to knot the score at 95 and force a third overtime. Weimar, a 6-foot-4 center from Cortlandt Manor, New York, posted 25 points and two blocks.

The third overtime belonged to Virginia, which outscored Wake Forest 14-8, finally pulling away in the final seconds behind Johnson’s clutch free throws.

Milan Brown of Wake Forest was spectacular in defeat, scoring 30 points over 49 minutes and repeatedly making plays to keep her team alive. Her 3-pointer with one second left in regulation had initially forced the first overtime. Grace Oliver added 19 points and four assists for the Demon Deacons, while Caitlyn Jones contributed 18 points.

For Virginia, Gabby White of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was instrumental with 22 points and six assists, providing critical secondary scoring alongside Johnson and Weimar. Romi Levy added 12 points for the Cavaliers.

The game was a tale of shifting momentum. Virginia led 40-25 at halftime, but Wake Forest erupted for 26 points in the third quarter to surge ahead. The Demon Deacons held a six-point lead with under five minutes left in regulation before Virginia mounted its comeback.

Virginia shot from the floor, from 3-point range and from the free-throw line. Wake Forest shot from the floor, from 3-point range and from the free-throw line.

Virginia next travels to face Virginia Tech on Sunday. Wake Forest will visit Duke on Sunday.