PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a frantic final minute, the Bradley Braves survived a furious fourth-quarter rally by the South Dakota Coyotes to secure a 65-62 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Wednesday afternoon at Carver Arena.

A crowd of 3,704 watched as the Braves, who improved to 6-4, built a commanding 16-point lead late in the third quarter only to see the Coyotes, now 8-3, erase nearly all of it in the final period. The outcome was decided in the final 10 seconds at the free-throw line.

Bradley guard Maya Foz, a sophomore from Mississauga, Canada, led all scorers with 14 points and added six rebounds, providing a critical offensive spark. Her backcourt mate, senior Mya Wardle of Peoria, orchestrated the offense with six assists and added seven points over 36 minutes.

The game’s pivotal sequence began with Bradley clinging to a 63-62 lead and 10 seconds remaining. South Dakota’s Angelina Robles, who finished with seven points, seven rebounds and six assists, was called for a foul on Wardle as she advanced the ball upcourt. Wardle, a 77% free-throw shooter entering the game, calmly sank both attempts to extend the lead to three.

South Dakota had one final chance to force overtime, but Robles’ contested 3-point attempt from the top of the key as time expired missed off the rim, sealing the Braves’ narrow win.

The contest was a tale of contrasting halves and statistical oddities. Bradley dominated the middle quarters, outscoring South Dakota 44-30 in the second and third periods combined. The Braves’ defense was particularly stifling in the third, forcing eight Coyote turnovers and converting them into easy opportunities.

South Dakota’s resilience surfaced in the fourth. After managing just 38 points through three quarters, the Coyotes erupted for 24 in the final frame, shooting 7 of 13 from the field. Tori Schlagel, a sophomore from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, was instrumental in the comeback, scoring eight of her team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a driving layup that cut the deficit to 63-62 with 29 seconds left.

Bradley’s victory was anchored at the free-throw line, where they attempted more than double the shots of South Dakota. The Braves made 24 of 35 attempts, while the Coyotes were an efficient 14 of 17. Bradley also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 15 points off 16 South Dakota giveaways, and held a 12-9 edge in steals.

Conversely, South Dakota dominated inside, outscoring Bradley 30-16 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 38-30. Elise Turrubiates, a 6-foot sophomore from Hobbs, New Mexico, contributed 10 points and six rebounds for the Coyotes.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with South Dakota taking an 8-5 lead after a first quarter that featured nine combined turnovers and 11 combined field goal misses. Bradley seized control in the second quarter behind Foz and forward Tamia Perryman, who scored 12 points. A 12-2 run to close the first half gave the Braves a 22-16 halftime advantage, which they expanded after the break.

Bradley’s Kaylen Nelson, a junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, scored 12 points, all in the second half, and made key free throws down the stretch. Caitlin Washington added eight points off the bench for the Braves.

For South Dakota, the loss snapped a pattern of recent close games, having suffered a 67-63 defeat to Eastern Washington just four days prior. Bradley, meanwhile, bounced back from a 92-53 road loss to Nebraska with its second straight home win.

The game’s tempo was measured, with both teams finishing with 74 possessions. Bradley’s offensive rating of 88.3 narrowly edged South Dakota’s 83.7, reflecting the game’s tight, defensive nature.

South Dakota now heads to California for a two-game trip, facing Pepperdine on Dec. 17 and Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 18. Bradley remains at home to host Southern Illinois on Dec. 18 before embarking on a two-game road swing.