FARMVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit and a dramatic collapse, the Longwood women’s basketball team authored a stunning overtime comeback to defeat Radford 88-73 in a pivotal Big South Conference matchup Wednesday night at a raucous Willet Hall.

The victory, played before an announced crowd of 1,042, avenged a 15-point loss to the Highlanders just two weeks prior and solidified the Lancers’ position in the conference race. Longwood improved to 16-6 overall, while Radford fell to 15-10.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the final five minutes of regulation, where Longwood erased a nine-point deficit to force overtime, completely shifting the momentum and ultimately breaking Radford’s spirit. The Lancers, who had trailed for the majority of the second half, closed the fourth quarter on a 17-8 run, capitalizing on Radford’s offensive stagnation and a series of critical turnovers.

The game appeared to be slipping away from Longwood when a 3-pointer by Radford’s Cate Carlson gave the Highlanders a 66-59 lead with just over a minute remaining in regulation. However, the Lancers’ defense clamped down, and their proficiency at the free-throw line kept them within reach. Frances Ulysse and Jasmine Peaks combined to make four crucial free throws in the final minute, while Radford managed only a single free throw from Georgia Simonsen.

With the score 67-63 and seconds ticking away, Longwood’s Malea Brown, the game’s standout performer, stole the ball and was fouled. She sank both free throws to cut the lead to two. After a Radford timeout, the ensuing inbounds pass was intercepted by Longwood, leading to Ulysse being fouled with 5.1 seconds left. The junior from Montreal, Canada, coolly sank both free throws to tie the game at 67 and send it to an extra period, completing the improbable rally.

The overtime period was a one-sided affair, with Longwood dominating from the opening tip. The Lancers scored the first 10 points of the extra frame, starting with a floating jumper from Jasmine Peaks and a dagger 3-pointer from Brown. Radford, visibly fatigued and demoralized, was held to just four points in overtime, missing 10 of its 11 field goal attempts and committing three turnovers. Longwood, by contrast, was efficient and relentless, scoring 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.

Brown, a 5-foot-5 guard from Putnam Hall, Florida, led all scorers with 19 points, adding four assists and four steals. Her defensive pressure was instrumental in Longwood’s 23 forced turnovers. Ulysse was a force inside, scoring 21 points and grabbing a key offensive rebound that led to free throws in the final minute of regulation. Otaifo Esenabhalu of Valdosta, Georgia, provided a massive boost off the bench with 18 points and several key rebounds and blocks, while Jasmine Peaks of Palm Bay, Florida, orchestrated the offense with 15 points and six assists.

Radford was led by Georgia Simonsen of Fairfax, Virginia, who scored 17 points. Cate Carlson of Virginia Beach added 13 points, and Joi Williams of Leesburg contributed 11 points and six assists. The Highlanders built their lead through strong second and fourth quarters, but their offense faltered when it mattered most, shooting just 32.9% from the field for the game and a frigid 25% from 3-point range.

Statistically, the game was a tale of efficiency. Longwood scored 88 points on just 84 possessions, an offensive rating of 105.3, fueled by 46.6% shooting from the field. Radford, despite more shot attempts, managed only 73 points on 89 possessions, an offensive rating of 82.0. The Lancers also dominated at the charity stripe, making 29 of 37 attempts compared to Radford’s 15 of 19.

The win gives Longwood a season split with Radford and crucial momentum as they head into the final stretch of conference play. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Longwood was projected with a 74.70 percent probability to win, a forecast that nearly proved incorrect until the late-game heroics. Radford, which had won three straight and five of its last six, will look to regroup quickly with a rematch against High Point looming on Saturday.