EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Belmont Bruins escaped Ford Center with a 79-73 overtime victory over the Evansville Purple Aces in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Thursday night that defied statistical logic and preseason projections.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Belmont with a 97.60 percent probability to win, but for 40 minutes, Evansville authored a script of its own. The Bruins, now 12-8, needed a monumental 20-point explosion in the extra period to finally subdue a determined Evansville squad that fell to 5-16.

The contest was a stark contrast in styles and efficiency. Belmont’s victory was forged not from the field, where they shot a frigid 28 percent, but at the free-throw line and through sheer force of will on the glass. The Bruins attempted 40 free throws, making 30, and crushed the Purple Aces on the offensive boards, 15-9, generating critical second-chance opportunities that offset their shooting woes. Evansville was more efficient from the floor, shooting 36.6 percent, but attempted 24 fewer free throws and dished out only five assists against 16 turnovers.

The narrative of regulation was one of Evansville’s control and Belmont’s resilience. The Purple Aces, led by the formidable inside-out duo of Georgia Cox and Camryn Runner, dictated the tempo for long stretches. Cox, a 6-foot-4 center from Ballarat, Australia, finished with 23 points, while Runner, a guard from Cicero, Indiana, orchestrated the offense with a double-double of 19 points and 10 assists.

Belmont’s offense, however, was stuck in neutral for three quarters. They managed only five points in the opening period and trailed 26-13 midway through the second. A 26-point second-quarter outburst, fueled by transition play and trips to the line, brought them back, but they still faced a 44-41 deficit entering the final quarter. The Bruins’ leading scorer, Avery Strickland of Knoxville, Tennessee, was kept in check for much of the night before finishing with 23 points, while backcourt mate Jailyn Banks of Spring Hill, Tennessee, added 20.

The fourth quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than four points. Evansville appeared to have secured a crucial advantage when a Sydney Huber three-pointer gave them a 58-54 lead with just over two minutes remaining. Belmont responded with the defensive pressure that would become their salvation. Strickland converted a driving layup, and after a critical Evansville turnover, Sanaa Tripp was fouled and sank two free throws to tie the game at 58 with 1:49 left.

Both teams had chances to win in the final minute. Evansville’s Cox missed inside, and Belmont’s Jailyn Banks was fouled on a three-point attempt with 21 seconds left. She made the first free throw to give Belmont a 59-58 lead but missed the second. Evansville’s Elle Snyder was then fouled with 40 seconds remaining but missed both free throws, preserving Belmont’s one-point edge. The Bruins failed to extend the lead, and Evansville’s Runner was fouled with 47 seconds on the clock. She made the first to tie the game at 59 but missed the second. Both teams committed turnovers in the final frantic seconds, sending the game to overtime tied.

The most important part of the game was Belmont’s immediate and overwhelming takeover in the extra period. Having been outplayed for significant stretches of regulation, the Bruins dominated overtime from the opening tip. They scored the first four points, never trailed, and outscored Evansville 20-14 in the five-minute session. The key surge was a 7-0 run that turned a 66-63 lead into a 73-63 advantage with just over a minute to play. This run was fueled by the very elements that defined their night: offensive rebounding leading to putbacks or fouls, and relentless attacks drawing contact. Belmont went 8-for-10 from the line in overtime, while Evansville, visibly fatigued, could not replicate their earlier offensive flow.

The victory completes a regular-season sweep for Belmont, who defeated Evansville 77-67 on Dec. 17 in Nashville. The Bruins will look to build on this escape when they host Murray State on Saturday. Evansville, despite the loss, showed significant fight and will host Indiana State on Sunday.