BOULDER, Colo. (Interstat) — In a stunning upset, the Montana State Bobcats edged the Colorado Buffaloes 71-70 in a nonconference women’s basketball thriller Sunday at a raucous Coors Events Center.

The game was decided in the final second as Montana State guard Taylee Chirrick drove the lane and connected on a layup with one second remaining on the clock, silencing the home crowd of 2,206 and capping a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback.

The contest was a tale of two halves, defined by Colorado’s early dominance and Montana State’s resilient finish. The Buffaloes exploded out of the gate, leveraging their size and interior presence to build a commanding lead. They ended the first quarter with a 24-17 advantage and extended it to a 43-34 lead by halftime, largely on the strength of a potent inside game and transition offense.

Montana State, however, refused to capitulate. The Bobcats methodically chipped away at the deficit throughout the third quarter, tightening their defense and capitalizing on key Colorado mistakes. The Buffaloes, who had looked fluid and confident in the first half, began to sputter, scoring only 16 points in the third period as the Bobcats cut the lead to 59-56.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the visitors. Montana State’s defense intensified, holding Colorado to just 11 points on a series of forced turnovers and contested shots. The Bobcats finally clawed their way back to even footing midway through the period, setting the stage for a frantic, back-and-forth final five minutes.

With the game tied in the closing seconds, Colorado’s Desiree Wooten appeared to have delivered a dagger. She sank a difficult floating jump shot and was fouled, completing a three-point play to put the Buffaloes ahead 70-69 with just nine seconds left. But on the ensuing possession, Chirrick took the inbounds pass, navigated through the Colorado defense, and finished at the rim to seal the victory for the Bobcats.

Chirrick, a guard from Roberts, Montana, was the catalyst for Montana State, finishing with a game-high 21 points to go with six rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Isobel Bunyan of Tonyrefail, Wales, added 10 points, including two critical three-pointers. Forward Addison Harris from Camas, Washington, provided a massive interior presence, scoring 17 points and grabbing six rebounds, including the game’s opening basket off a tip-in.

For Colorado, the loss was a bitter pill despite a balanced scoring effort. Forward Jade Masogayo of Fort Worth, Texas, led the team with 16 points and added three blocks. French forward Anaëlle Dutat nearly recorded a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Guard Desiree Wooten from Dallas was a sparkplug off the bench, contributing 14 points and five assists, including the late three-point play that briefly gave Colorado the lead. Logyn Greer of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, was a force defensively with eight points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.

The win propels Montana State to an impressive 5-1 record early in the season, signaling their potential as a formidable mid-major program. The loss drops Colorado to 5-3 as they navigate a challenging nonconference slate.

Montana State looks to continue its momentum on the road at North Dakota State on Wednesday. Colorado, seeking to rebound from the heartbreaking defeat, returns to the Coors Events Center to host the College of Charleston on Tuesday.