GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Keanna Rembert’s deep 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in overtime capped a 27-point performance and lifted East Carolina to an 88-87 victory over UAB in a wild American Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Williams Arena.

The Pirates, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and were down 10 at halftime, mounted a massive second-half comeback to force the extra session before finally securing the win in the final moments.

UAB, which fell to 7-6 overall, appeared in control for much of the night. The Blazers raced to a 24-16 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 43-33 by halftime behind a balanced attack. Monae Duffy of Lafayette, Louisiana, scored 22 points, Cali Smallwood of Blountsville, Alabama, added 19 and Sofia Munoz of Canovanas, Puerto Rico, chipped in 16 for UAB.

The game turned dramatically in the third quarter. East Carolina, now 9-5, erupted for 32 points in the period, outscoring the Blazers by 21 to completely erase the deficit and take a 65-54 lead into the final quarter. The Pirates’ defense forced a series of UAB turnovers, converting them into easy transition baskets during the surge.

UAB refused to fold, responding with a 24-point fourth quarter of its own to knot the score at 78 and force overtime. The Blazers’ rally was fueled by crucial plays from Duffy and Munoz, along with the playmaking of Journey Armstead of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who dished out 11 assists.

The overtime period was a tense back-and-forth affair. UAB held an 87-85 lead after Duffy made one of two free throws with 20 seconds left. Following an East Carolina timeout, the Pirates worked the ball to Taylor Barner of Cary, North Carolina, who found Rembert, a 6-foot-2 forward from Raleigh, North Carolina, open well beyond the arc on the right wing. Rembert’s shot swished through the net, sending the home crowd of 760 into a frenzy.

UAB had one final chance, but Eleecia Carter’s desperation 3-pointer from the top of the key as time expired missed off the rim.

Rembert’s game-winner was the final act of a dominant individual performance. She also grabbed a key offensive rebound on the possession prior to her decisive shot. Barner supported Rembert with 19 points, while Savannah Brooks of Taneytown, Maryland, scored 13 and Kennedy Fauntleroy of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, added 12 for the Pirates.

The most critical sequence of the game was East Carolina’s overwhelming third-quarter performance. After being outplayed in the first half, the Pirates tightened their defense, generated turnovers and found an offensive rhythm that had been absent. This 32-point quarter, which turned a 10-point halftime deficit into an 11-point lead, completely shifted the momentum and set the stage for the dramatic finish.

For UAB, Molly Moffitt of Seattle contributed 12 points in the loss. The Blazers will look to rebound when they travel to face Charlotte on Saturday.

East Carolina, which was projected as a significant favorite by advanced metrics, hosts Memphis next on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Birmingham on Jan. 24.