ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive runs and a frantic final minute, Dani Carnegie’s clutch free throw with 27 seconds remaining proved the difference as the Georgia women’s basketball team edged Vanderbilt 76-74 in a Southeastern Conference thriller on Sunday at Stegeman Coliseum.

Carnegie, a guard from Mount Vernon, New York, scored a game-high 29 points, including the decisive point from the line, to lift the Bulldogs to a critical victory in front of 3,682 fans. The win improved Georgia to 20-6 overall, while handing Vanderbilt, which entered with a 24-2 record and national championship aspirations, just its third loss of the season.

The contest was a tale of dramatic momentum swings. Georgia stormed out to a 27-20 lead after the first quarter, fueled by Carnegie’s hot hand and 10 early points from Mia Woolfolk. Vanderbilt, displaying the resilience that has defined its season, responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 16-12 to trim the deficit to 39-36 at halftime. The Commodores’ defense tightened, and Mikayla Blakes of Somerset, New Jersey, began to find her rhythm, scoring 11 of her 27 points before the break.

The third quarter saw Vanderbilt seize control, winning the period 20-17 to knot the score at 56 heading into the final frame. Justine Pissott of Toms River, New Jersey, was instrumental in the comeback, hitting key three-pointers on her way to 23 points. The teams traded blows throughout the fourth quarter, with neither leading by more than four points.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With Georgia clinging to a 75-74 lead after a Trinity Turner jumper, Vanderbilt inbounded with a chance to take the lead. The Commodores’ set play broke down, resulting in a turnover by Aga Makurat with 30 seconds left. Carnegie was immediately fouled on the ensuing possession. She calmly sank the first free throw to extend the lead to 76-74 but missed the second. Vanderbilt’s Sacha Washington secured the rebound, giving the Commodores a final opportunity with 24 seconds remaining.

After using its final timeout to advance the ball, Vanderbilt ran a play for its star, Blakes. Georgia’s defense, however, forced a contested, off-balance shot that missed. A scramble for the loose ball ensued as the clock expired, sealing the monumental victory for the Bulldogs.

Beyond Carnegie’s heroics, Georgia received a massive contribution from Mia Woolfolk of Midlothian, Virginia, who posted 19 points and seven rebounds. Trinity Turner of Orlando, Florida, added six points and six assists, orchestrating the offense down the stretch. For Vanderbilt, Blakes filled the stat sheet with 27 points and six assists in a full 40 minutes. Pissott’s 23 points came on efficient shooting, and Washington of Lawrenceville, Georgia, just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

The outcome was a significant upset according to predictive metrics, as Interstat’s ELO system had given Vanderbilt a 77.6 percent probability of winning. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Commodores, who had been rolling since a Jan. 25 defeat at South Carolina. For Georgia, the victory served as a powerful bounce-back after a road loss at Mississippi State earlier in the week and avenged a narrow overtime loss to Tennessee in its previous home game.

Vanderbilt will look to regroup on Feb. 22 when it hosts Kentucky. Georgia, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround, hosting Oklahoma on Thursday before a road trip to Auburn.