In a thrilling, back-and-forth non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night, the San Francisco Dons outlasted the visiting Lehigh Mountain Hawks 89-84 at a raucous War Memorial Gymnasium.

The contest was a tale of offensive efficiency versus sheer volume, with San Francisco’s sharp-shooting ultimately overcoming a valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Lehigh. The Dons improved their season record to 4-2, while the Mountain Hawks fell to 2-5.

The game was tightly contested from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets to finish the first quarter knotted at 18. San Francisco began to create separation in the second period, outscoring Lehigh 21-17 to take a 39-35 lead into halftime. The Dons then exploded in the third quarter, putting up 28 points to seemingly take control of the game with a 67-55 advantage heading into the final frame.

Undeterred, the Mountain Hawks mounted a furious rally in the fourth quarter, unleashing their most potent offensive period of the night with 29 points. Lehigh chipped away at the deficit, applying defensive pressure and capitalizing on San Francisco miscues to close the gap in the closing minutes. However, the Dons managed to execute in the final possessions, hitting critical free throws to seal the five-point victory.

The statistical story of the game was written in the shooting percentages. San Francisco’s offense was remarkably efficient, converting 31 of 56 field goal attempts for a 55.4 percent success rate. Lehigh, by contrast, relied on a high-volume approach, taking 72 shots but making only 29 for a 40.3 percent clip. The Dons also dominated inside, outscoring the Mountain Hawks 46-34 in the paint.

Lehigh kept the game close through determined effort on the glass and at the free-throw line. The Mountain Hawks hauled in 14 offensive rebounds, leading to crucial second-chance opportunities, and were nearly perfect from the charity stripe, sinking 15 of 17 attempts. San Francisco struggled from the line, making only 19 of 32 free throws, a factor that nearly cost them the game down the stretch.

The individual performances were highlighted by a spectacular duel. San Francisco’s Candy Edokpaigbe, a guard from Naples, Italy, was the engine for the Dons, pouring in a game-high 25 points while adding two assists and two blocks in 38 minutes of action. Her ability to drive and finish at the rim was a constant challenge for the Lehigh defense.

She was complemented superbly by the backcourt duo of Aina Cargol and Mara Neira, both from Spain. Cargol orchestrated the offense with a double-double, dishing out 10 assists to go with nine points, while Neira provided a potent scoring punch with 19 points and three assists.

For Lehigh, the offensive load was carried by Lily Fandre of Eagan, Minnesota. The 6-foot-1 forward was a force, scoring 27 points on the strength of an 11-for-15 performance from the free-throw line, all in just 26 minutes of play. She was a central figure in the team’s fourth-quarter surge.

Fandre received strong support from Leia Edwards of London, England, who contributed 15 points and three assists, and Gracyn Lovette of San Rafael, California, who added 13 points. Jessie Ozzauto of Algonquin, Illinois, facilitated the offense with eight assists.

The game was characterized by its frenetic pace, with both teams committing a high number of turnovers (Interstat) — 15 for Lehigh and 19 for San Francisco. Each team scored 20 points directly off those opponent mistakes, underscoring the game’s chaotic and competitive nature.

San Francisco will look to build on this hard-fought victory when they return to War Memorial Gymnasium to host Cal St. Monterey Bay on Sunday. Lehigh, despite the loss, will take positives from their resilient performance as they prepare to return home to face Brown on Sunday.