GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering reversal of momentum, the East Carolina Pirates mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback to edge the South Florida Bulls 64-62 in an American Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday afternoon at Williams Arena.

The contest pivoted dramatically in the final period. South Florida, which had controlled the tempo and built a 13-point lead late in the third quarter, saw its offense stagnate while East Carolina unleashed a 29-point fourth quarter, erasing the deficit and snatching victory in the final seconds before an announced crowd of 1,088.

For three quarters, the Bulls executed a game plan centered on interior defense and capitalizing on limited possessions. Despite committing 22 turnovers that led to 20 East Carolina points, South Florida led 44-35 entering the final frame. The Bulls’ defense had held the Pirates to a frigid 24-of-77 shooting performance from the floor for the game, and their own efficiency, shooting 45 percent, seemed sufficient.

The collapse was swift and comprehensive. East Carolina’s defensive pressure intensified, forcing South Florida into rushed shots and more mistakes. The Pirates, who had managed only eight points in the second quarter, found an offensive rhythm behind the backcourt duo of Jayla Hearp and Kennedy Fauntleroy. Hearp, a guard from Hampton, Virginia, scored 18 points, while Fauntleroy, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, added 15 points and six assists, directing the late surge.

South Florida’s offense, which had scored 22 points in the second quarter, managed just 18 in the fourth against the revitalized Pirates. The Bulls’ final possessions, while frantic, were ultimately undone by their earlier struggles to secure the ball, as East Carolina finished with 11 steals.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the final 12 seconds. With South Florida trailing 60-58, L’or Mputu scored on a layup with 13 seconds remaining to tie the game. On the ensuing inbound, Hearp was fouled and made both free throws to put East Carolina back ahead 62-60 with 12 seconds left. South Florida’s Edyn Battle found Mputu again for another layup, knotting the score at 62 with seven seconds on the clock.

The Bulls’ hopes were dashed immediately. Hearp was fouled on the next possession with six seconds left and calmly sank two more free throws for the 64-62 lead. South Florida’s last-gasp attempt, a three-point heave by Katie Davidson at the buzzer, missed its mark.

Mputu, a forward from Kinshasa, Congo, was a force for South Florida, recording a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds in 31 minutes. Teammate Carla Brito, from Puerto del Rosario, Spain, also posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Davidson, from Indianapolis, led the Bulls with 17 points, including three three-pointers.

Beyond Hearp and Fauntleroy, East Carolina received a critical contribution from forward Anzhane’ Hutton of Dallas, who scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, providing essential interior scoring during the comeback.

The statistical sheet highlighted the game’s contrasting styles. South Florida’s efficiency, with an offensive rating of 83.1 on 75 possessions, was slightly better than East Carolina’s 82.4 on 78 possessions, but the Pirates’ massive 15-5 advantage in offensive rebounds and a 22-9 edge in points off turnovers proved decisive. Both teams shot identically from the free-throw line, making 11 of 14 attempts.

The loss drops South Florida to 13-10 overall. The Bulls, who had won four of their last five conference games entering Wednesday, will look to regroup when they host Tulane on Saturday.

East Carolina improves to 17-7 with the victory, strengthening its position in the conference standings. The Pirates travel to face Tulane next Tuesday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, South Florida entered the game with a 57.3 percent probability to win, a projection that held true for 35 minutes before East Carolina’s relentless final-quarter performance rewrote the script.