(Interstat) — In a dramatic, defensive struggle that required an extra period to decide, the Duquesne Dukes outlasted the Navy Midshipmen in a women’s NCAA basketball game Sunday at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Maryland.

The contest, characterized by frigid shooting and a plethora of turnovers, saw Duquesne emerge with a narrow victory after Navy mounted a massive second-half comeback only to see its offense vanish in the final quarter. The Dukes improved to 6-2 on the season, while the Midshipmen fell to 5-2.

The game’s trajectory was a tale of two halves and an overtime defined by resilience. Duquesne established an early lead, finishing the first quarter with a two-point advantage and extending it to a 28-25 lead at halftime. The Dukes’ offense was fueled by a strong shooting performance from beyond the arc in the opening half, with Alexis Bordas and Mackenzie Blackford connecting from deep.

The third quarter, however, belonged entirely to Navy. The Midshipmen exploded for 25 points, their most productive period of the game, while holding Duquesne to 16. A combination of efficient scoring from Julianna Almeida and Zanai Barnett-Gay, coupled with disruptive defense that forced several Duquesne turnovers, allowed Navy to seize control. They built a seemingly comfortable 56-44 lead heading into the final ten minutes of regulation.

That comfort evaporated in a fourth quarter that was an offensive nightmare for the home team. Navy’s scoring touch deserted them completely as they managed a mere four points in the quarter. Duquesne’s defense tightened significantly, and the Dukes began to methodically chip away at the deficit. Key contributions from Gabby Grantham-Medley, who attacked the basket and drew fouls, and a critical three-pointer from Reina Green, fueled a 16-4 Duquesne run that erased Navy’s 12-point lead and sent the game to overtime tied at 60.

The overtime period was a microcosm of the entire game: a gritty, back-and-forth affair where every possession was paramount. Duquesne struck first with a layup from Raevin Washington, but Navy responded, taking a late lead on a three-pointer from Julianna Almeida, her fourth of the game, which made the score 67-64 with under a minute to play.

Duquesne’s answer came from its work on the glass. After a missed three-pointer, Harriet Ford secured a crucial offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt. She converted one of two free throws to bring the Dukes within two. On the ensuing possession, Navy’s Zanai Barnett-Gay committed a critical offensive foul, turning the ball over and giving Duquesne a final chance.

With seconds remaining, Duquesne’s Alexis Bordas was fouled and sent to the line for two shots. She calmly sank the first to tie the game. After a Navy timeout intended to ice her, Bordas missed the second free throw, but the Dukes managed to secure the offensive rebound. In the ensuing scramble, Navy was called for another foul, sending Bordas back to the line with just over a second left. She made the first free throw to give Duquesne the lead and, after another timeout, intentionally missed the second. Navy’s desperation heave was off target, sealing the dramatic victory for the Dukes.

Statistically, the game was a battle of attrition. Both teams struggled mightily from the field; Duquesne shot just 31.9 percent while Navy connected on 32.5 percent of its attempts. The Dukes’ saving grace was their three-point shooting, where they went 10 for 25 compared to Navy’s 10 for 29. Duquesne also dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 20 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second-chance points and helped overcome their 23 turnovers. Navy committed 18 turnovers of their own.

Key individual performances underscored the tight nature of the contest. For Duquesne, Alexis Bordas from Wheeling, West Virginia, led all scorers with 18 points, including the game-winning free throws. Gabby Grantham-Medley of Hagerstown, Maryland, added 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, providing critical scoring in the second half and overtime. Harriet Ford, a 6-foot-3 freshman from Perth, Australia, was a force inside, recording a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Navy was led by Julianna Almeida of North Arlington, New Jersey, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Christina Liggio from Colts Neck, New Jersey, contributed 12 points, while Saran Moschella of Staten Island, New York, added 9 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Zanai Barnett-Gay from Glenn Dale, Maryland, facilitated the offense with 5 assists to go with 9 points and 7 rebounds.

The victory for Duquesne comes after a loss at Liberty the previous day and provides momentum as they head into Atlantic 10 Conference play. Navy, which had won its previous game against Manhattan, will look to regroup on the road in its next outing.