CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — In a Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a frantic final minute, Coastal Carolina escaped with a 65-64 victory over Appalachian State on Wednesday afternoon at HTC Center.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the closing seconds, a chaotic finish that saw the lead change hands three times in the final 15 seconds. With the Mountaineers clinging to a 64-63 lead after a pair of Olivia Klanac free throws, Appalachian State’s Riley Stoker committed a costly turnover with six seconds remaining, giving the Chanticleers a final chance.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Appalachian State’s Daisia Mitchell was called for a foul on Klanac with four seconds on the clock. Klanac, a guard from Medina, Ohio, missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to put Coastal Carolina ahead by one. Appalachian State’s last-ditch attempt, a long inbound pass, was intercepted as time expired, sealing the Chanticleers’ narrow win.

The final drama capped a game where neither team led by more than 12 points and control shifted violently between quarters. Coastal Carolina dominated the opening period, racing to an 18-6 lead behind early three-pointers from Tessa Grady and stifling defense that forced six Mountaineer turnovers. The Chanticleers maintained a 31-24 advantage at halftime.

The third quarter belonged entirely to Coastal Carolina, which exploded for 26 points. A 13-2 run midway through the period, fueled by Klanac and D’Yanis Jimenez, stretched their lead to 53-35, seemingly putting the game out of reach. Klanac finished with a team-high 20 points.

Appalachian State, however, mounted a stunning and relentless fourth-quarter comeback. The Mountaineers locked down defensively, holding the Chanticleers to just eight points on 2-of-15 shooting from the field in the final period. Offensively, they chipped away with methodical execution. Emma Smith, who led all scorers with 22 points, was instrumental in the rally, scoring nine in the fourth quarter.

A 17-4 run by the Mountaineers, capped by a Jada Burton jump shot with 1:54 to play, cut the deficit to 61-59. After a Coastal Carolina free throw, Smith hit a jumper to make it a one-point game. Following a critical steal by Feryal Defne Atli, Smith struck again, giving Appalachian State its first lead since the opening minute at 64-62 with 39 seconds remaining.

That set the stage for the tense final exchange, where Klanac’s composure at the line ultimately decided the contest.

Beyond Smith’s scoring output for Appalachian State, Riley Stoker contributed 11 points and eight rebounds, while Jada Burton filled the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds and six assists. For Coastal Carolina, Tracey Hueston posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Grady added 10 points.

Statistically, the game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Coastal Carolina’s advantage came largely at the free-throw line, where they made 17 of 21 attempts compared to Appalachian State’s 10-of-19 performance. The Mountaineers, however, shot a better percentage from the field and from three-point range, and outscored the Chanticleers 28-22 in the paint. Turnovers were plentiful, with Appalachian State committing 18 and Coastal Carolina 15, leading to 20 and 14 points off turnovers, respectively.

With the loss, Appalachian State falls to 11-15 overall. Coastal Carolina improves to 13-15. An announced crowd of 1,221 attended the game.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the chaotic final 15 seconds, where the outcome hinged on a single free throw. After Appalachian State’s remarkable 29-8 run to erase an 18-point deficit and take a late lead, a turnover and a foul in the closing moments handed the initiative back to Coastal Carolina. Olivia Klanac, under immense pressure, converted the second of two free throws to provide the final margin, a one-point victory that encapsulated the game’s razor-thin margins and emotional swings.