FOUNTAIN HILL, Pa. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune and expectation, the Boston University women’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a gritty 68-64 victory over Lehigh in a Patriot League contest Wednesday night at Stabler Arena.

The Terriers, who entered the game with a 4-11 record and were given only a 4.6% chance to win by a national statistical service, overcame a slow start and a late surge from the Mountain Hawks to secure their first conference win of the season. The victory improved Boston University to 5-11 overall and 1-3 in the Patriot League, while Lehigh fell to .500 at 8-8 and 2-2 in league play.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final 30 seconds, transforming what had been a back-and-forth battle into a dramatic finish. Trailing 64-61 with 22 seconds remaining, Boston University’s Hildur Gunnsteinsdóttir, a guard from Selfoss, Iceland, intercepted an errant pass from Lehigh’s Alana Reddy. Fouled immediately, the sophomore calmly sank both free throws to pull the Terriers within a single point.

On the ensuing inbound play, Lehigh’s pressure defense forced a turnover, but Lily Fandre’s driving layup attempt for the Mountain Hawks rolled off the rim. Boston University’ Bella McLaughlin, a freshman from Hampden, Maine, secured the crucial defensive rebound and was fouled with 10 seconds left. With immense poise, McLaughlin knocked down both free throws to give the Terriers a 65-64 lead, their first since the second quarter.

Lehigh’s final attempt to reclaim the lead ended in another turnover, and Gunnsteinsdóttir was fouled again with six ticks on the clock. She converted one of two free throws to extend the lead to 66-64. After a Lehigh timeout, the Mountain Hawks’ last-gasp effort saw Fandre connect on a deep three-pointer, but it was waved off as she was ruled to have stepped out of bounds before the shot. Boston University’s Inés Monteagudo sealed the game with two final free throws for the four-point margin.

The contest was a tale of contrasting halves and resilient responses. Lehigh, spurred by early three-point shooting from Gracyn Lovette and Whitney Lind, raced to a 19-15 lead after the first quarter. The Mountain Hawks’ offense then went frigid in the second period, managing only nine points as Boston University’s defense tightened. The Terriers, led by the interior presence of Anastasiia Semenova and Anete Adler, outscored Lehigh 21-9 in the quarter to take a 36-28 lead into halftime.

Lehigh chipped away throughout the third quarter, closing the gap to 54-44 heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter became a tense affair, with the Mountain Hawks finally drawing even and briefly taking the lead on free throws by Lind with just over a minute to play. The stage was then set for the frantic final minute that culminated in Boston University’s clutch defensive stands and perfect free-throw shooting under pressure.

Semenova, a junior from St. Petersburg, Russia, led all scorers with 18 points and added three assists in 30 minutes. Adler, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Keila, Estonia, provided a vital 15 points, four assists and key defensive rebounds. Monteagudo, a guard from Valencia, Spain, orchestrated the offense with 15 points and five assists.

Lehigh was led by Fandre, who scored 17 points in 37 minutes. Lind, from Florence, Kentucky, and Belle Bramer of Los Gatos, California, each contributed 15 points. The Mountain Hawks struggled from the field, particularly during their second-quarter drought, and were ultimately undone by 18 turnovers.

The win provides a significant boost for a young Boston University team that had suffered several narrow defeats in recent weeks, including a one-point loss to Lafayette just a week prior. For Lehigh, the loss represents a missed opportunity to solidify a position in the upper tier of the Patriot League standings.

A crowd of 486 at Stabler Arena witnessed the upset. Boston University returns home to face Loyola Maryland on Saturday, while Lehigh travels to face Navy the same day.