MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats, the UAB women’s basketball team authored a resilient chapter on Wednesday night, edging Memphis 79-76 in overtime at FedExForum in an American Athletic Conference clash.

The victory, secured before an announced crowd of 881, snapped a three-game losing skid for the Blazers and avenged a two-point home loss to the Tigers just three weeks prior. It improved UAB to 11-18 overall, while Memphis fell to 9-21.

The game’s defining sequence, and its most important part, unfolded in the frantic final seconds of regulation. Trailing 68-65 with mere ticks remaining, UAB’s fortunes hinged on senior guard Sofia Munoz. Fouled on a desperate 3-point attempt with no time left on the clock, the native of Canovanas, Puerto Rico, stepped to the line with the weight of the game on her shoulders. With icy composure, Munoz sank all three free throws, sending the game to overtime and completing a dramatic comeback from a deficit that had been eight points early in the fourth quarter.

Munoz, the game’s top star, was instrumental throughout, finishing with 20 points and eight assists in 40 minutes, but no moment was bigger than her trip to the charity stripe. Her clutch performance marked a significant uptick from her recent outings, where she had scored 4, 8, and 14 points in the Blazers’ previous three losses.

The overtime period was a tense back-and-forth affair. UAB struck first on a Cali Smallwood 3-pointer, one of her four on the night, giving the Blazers a lead they would not relinquish. Memphis’s Tamya Smith, who finished with 17 points, answered with a layup to keep the Tigers close at 72-70. Munoz then drove for a layup, and after a Molly Moffitt basket, UAB held a 76-72 advantage.

Memphis’s Daejah Richmond, who led all scorers with 23 points, converted a driving layup with 42 seconds left to cut the deficit to two. Following a UAB turnover, the Tigers had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a missed 3-pointer by Richmond led to an offensive rebound and a put-back jumper by Smith, knotting the score at 76 with just eight seconds remaining in the extra period.

UAB inbounded the ball to Munoz, who was immediately fouled by Brooklyn Alexander with five seconds left. Just as she did at the end of regulation, Munoz calmly made both free throws to put UAB ahead 78-76. Memphis’s final attempt, a contested 3-pointer from Smith as time expired, missed the mark, and UAB’s Monae Duffy secured the defensive rebound to seal the victory.

The game was a tale of contrasting halves and relentless momentum swings. UAB raced out to a 21-10 lead after the first quarter, fueled by early baskets from Moffitt and Duffy. Memphis responded with a dominant 23-point second quarter, spearheaded by Richmond and Jordan Hunter, to take a 33-35 lead into halftime. The Tigers extended their advantage to as many as nine in the third quarter before UAB began its methodical climb back, setting the stage for the late-game heroics.

Moffitt was a powerhouse for UAB, contributing 23 points and playing a game-high 43 minutes. Smallwood added 12 points, all from beyond the arc, while Duffy chipped in 11 points and key defensive plays, including a critical block in the fourth quarter.

For Memphis, Richmond’s 23 points and five assists were complemented by Smith’s 17 points and two blocks. Hunter finished with 14 points for the Tigers.

The win provides a measure of momentum for UAB as it prepares to close its regular season at home against Charlotte on Saturday. Memphis will look to regroup when it hosts Wichita State the same day. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Memphis had entered the contest with a 66 percent probability to win, making UAB’s gritty road victory a notable upset.