KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Baylor Lady Bears escaped with a narrow 74-72 overtime victory over the Davidson Wildcats in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The contest was a defensive struggle marked by poor shooting and a flurry of turnovers, with neither team able to secure a decisive lead until the final seconds of the extra period.

Davidson’s Charlise Dunn delivered a heroic performance, pouring in 33 points in a game-high 43 minutes. The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Victoria Point, Australia, was the primary offensive engine for the Wildcats, relentlessly attacking the basket and drawing fouls to keep her team in contention.

Baylor’s victory was anchored by its interior defense, which racked up nine blocked shots. Kiersten Johnson, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Duncanville, Texas, was a force in the paint, swatting six shots while adding 10 points. The Lady Bears’ backcourt was led by Taliah Scott of Orange Park, Florida, who scored 22 points despite committing eight turnovers.

The game was a tale of two halves and a frantic finish. Davidson built a 34-31 lead at halftime, but a dismal third quarter in which the Wildcats managed only eight points allowed Baylor to seize control, taking a 47-42 advantage into the final frame.

Davidson clawed back in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime on a dramatic 3-pointer by Dunn with just four seconds remaining in regulation, knotting the score at 63.

The overtime period was a tense, back-and-forth affair. With 18 seconds left and the game tied at 72, Baylor’s Yuting Deng, who finished with 12 points, drove for the decisive layup to put the Lady Bears ahead for good. A final possession for Davidson failed to produce a game-tying shot.

Statistically, the game was an exercise in inefficiency. Both teams struggled from the field, with Davidson shooting just 32.9 percent and Baylor converting at a 43.9 percent clip. The Wildcats were particularly cold from beyond the arc, making only 4 of 23 attempts. Baylor’s ball security was a major issue, as they committed 21 turnovers, which Davidson converted into 12 steals.

Davidson’s Katie Donovan, a 5-foot-11 guard from Queensland, Australia, provided crucial support with 15 points. For Baylor, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs also chipped in 12 points.

With the win, Baylor improves its season record to 5-1. Davidson, which was coming off a loss to Miami, falls to an even 3-3. The game’s total score of 146 points fell well under the pregame over/under line of 125, a testament to the defensive intensity and offensive struggles on display. Baylor was a heavy pregame favorite, but the Wildcats defied the 14-point spread in the near-upset.