WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by its final, frantic seconds, Emma Von Essen’s three-pointer with two seconds remaining lifted Hofstra to a stunning 72-71 victory over Towson in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball tournament first-round game Thursday night at CareFirst Arena.

The play capped a chaotic final minute and delivered a dramatic upset, as the eighth-seeded Pride, which finished the regular season 8-21, ousted the fifth-seeded Tigers, who entered the contest with a 17-13 record and were projected by analytics as heavy favorites.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded over the final 19 seconds. With Hofstra trailing 71-69, Towson’s Kayla Morris missed a layup that would have provided a crucial cushion. Hofstra’s Ema Karim secured the defensive rebound, and the Pride called a full timeout with 19 seconds to play.

Out of the timeout, Hofstra executed its final play. Chloe Sterling, who led the Pride with 17 points and seven assists, drove and drew the defense before kicking the ball out to Von Essen on the left wing. The freshman guard from Rockville Centre, New York, calmly sank a stepback three-pointer, giving Hofstra its first lead since the second quarter and sending the Pride bench into a frenzy.

Towson, which had fought back from a 10-point first-quarter deficit to lead for much of the second half, had one final chance. After using its last timeout, the Tigers inbounded the ball to India Johnston, whose desperation jumper from the top of the key as time expired missed the mark, sealing the improbable win for Hofstra.

The game was a tale of contrasting halves and relentless momentum swings. Hofstra controlled the opening period, using active defense to force early turnovers and build a 17-12 lead. The Pride extended that advantage to 29-22 in the second quarter before Towson’s offense ignited. Led by Johnston and Semaya Turner, the Tigers closed the first half on a 12-3 run to take a 34-29 lead into halftime.

Johnston, a guard from Bear, Delaware, was spectacular for Towson, scoring a game-high 21 points, including several critical baskets in the second half to repeatedly stymie Hofstra rallies. Turner added 18 points, and Hannah Dereje contributed 14 points and key interior defense.

Hofstra refused to fade. After Towson built its lead to as many as eight points in the third quarter, the Pride chipped away, fueled by Sterling’s playmaking and timely scoring from Micaela Carter (13 points) and Alarice Gooden (12 points). The fourth quarter became a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring six lead changes.

Towson appeared to seize control when Johnston converted a three-point play with just over a minute remaining, putting the Tigers ahead 71-69. That set the stage for the final, decisive possession and Von Essen’s game-winning shot.

Hofstra’s victory, which improved its record to 9-21, avenged two narrow regular-season losses to Towson, both by a combined five points. The Tigers’ season ends at 17-14.

The Pride advance to face fourth-seeded Campbell in a tournament quarterfinal on Friday. Hofstra will look to carry the momentum from a victory that required resilience, execution in the clutch, and a single, season-extending shot from the wing.