KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Interstat) — Kailey Starks scored a career-high 33 points and Western Michigan made critical free throws down the stretch to hold off South Alabama 73-67 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at University Arena.

In a contest featuring 11 lead changes and eight ties, the Broncos (7-14) used a 20-point third quarter to build a slim advantage and then relied on their defense and composure at the foul line to secure the victory in front of 772 fans. The Jaguars (9-14) erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game late but could not complete the comeback.

The most pivotal sequence occurred in the final 25 seconds with Western Michigan clinging to a 71-67 lead. After a South Alabama turnover, the Broncos inbounded the ball to Starks, who was immediately fouled. The sophomore guard from Evanston, Illinois, calmly sank both free throws with 18 seconds remaining to extend the lead to six points, effectively sealing the outcome. Starks, who entered the game averaging 16.7 points over her previous two contests, finished 11 of 12 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds.

South Alabama had fought back from a 56-47 deficit early in the fourth quarter, mounting a 12-2 run capped by a Daniela Gonzalez three-pointer that tied the game at 67 with 4:44 to play. Gonzalez led the Jaguars with 18 points. However, the Jaguars went scoreless for the remainder of the game, missing their final five field goal attempts and committing two turnovers.

Western Michigan reclaimed the lead for good on a driving layup by Starks with 4:28 left, making it 69-67. Both teams then struggled offensively over the next three minutes before Starks added another layup with 36 seconds left to provide a four-point cushion.

The game was a statistical oddity, with both teams attempting 53 field goals and scoring 34 points in the paint. South Alabama actually made one more field goal, shooting 24 of 53 compared to Western Michigan’s 23 of 53. The difference came overwhelmingly at the free-throw line, where the Broncos built a decisive 22-12 advantage in makes, attempting 11 more free throws than the Jaguars.

Western Michigan also capitalized more on mistakes, scoring 19 points off 14 South Alabama turnovers, while the Jaguars managed 15 points off 10 Broncos turnovers. Both teams struggled from three-point range, with South Alabama hitting 7 of 19 and Western Michigan just 5 of 19.

Starks received key support from Alli Harness, who scored 12 points, and Ariana Wilkes, who added eight points and five rebounds. D’Myjah Bolds contributed seven points, six rebounds and two blocks for the Broncos.

For South Alabama, Tamara Ortiz posted 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Diawna Carter-Hartley scored 11 points and Cordasia Harris finished with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, featuring eight lead changes. South Alabama used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take its largest lead at 30-24, but Western Michigan closed the half on a 12-3 spurt, punctuated by a Harness three-pointer at the buzzer, to take a 36-39 lead into halftime.

The Broncos then opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run, powered by seven points from Starks, to establish a 45-41 lead they would not relinquish, despite South Alabama’s persistent challenges.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Western Michigan, which was coming off a 76-37 road loss to Ohio. South Alabama has now lost three straight games and five of its last six.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Western Michigan entered the game with a 77 percent probability to win.

South Alabama next hosts Texas State on Thursday. Western Michigan returns to Mid-American Conference play Tuesday at home against Miami (Ohio).