EL DORADO, Kan. (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied heavy odds, the New Mexico Junior College women’s basketball team outlasted Butler Community College 82-79 in overtime on Thursday night in a game defined by a monumental comeback and a last-second dagger.

The visiting Thunderbirds, entering as significant underdogs against a Grizzly Bears squad with only two losses all season, erased a 16-point second-quarter deficit and sealed the victory with a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds of the extra period.

New Mexico, now 25-6, was propelled by a heroic performance from Jada Graves. The guard played 45 minutes and delivered a stat line of 33 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, orchestrating the offense throughout the frantic contest. Her backcourt partner, Luisa Amaral, provided critical secondary scoring with 21 points, including the game-winning shot.

Butler, which fell to 30-2, dominated the second quarter, outscoring New Mexico 29-15 to turn an early deficit into a 43-35 halftime lead. Mya Mayberry was instrumental in that surge, hitting five three-pointers in the first half on her way to 19 points. Ashley Singhateh led the Grizzly Bears with 18 points, while Aliyah Green controlled the glass with 12 rebounds.

The Thunderbirds chipped away in the third but still trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter. There, the game transformed into a tense back-and-forth affair. New Mexico’s defense tightened, forcing several key Butler turnovers, and the offense found its rhythm behind Graves and Amaral. The duo combined for 20 of New Mexico’s 25 points in the period.

The final minute of regulation was a whirlwind of fouls, timeouts and pressure free throws. With the score tied, Butler had a chance to win in the final seconds, but a missed jump shot by Singhateh sent the game to overtime tied at 71.

In the extra period, the teams traded baskets until the score was knotted at 79 with mere seconds remaining. Following a New Mexico timeout with four seconds left, the inbounds play found Amaral, who drained a three-pointer from the wing with five seconds on the clock. Butler’s desperation heave from Mayberry at the buzzer missed, cementing the Thunderbirds’ dramatic victory.

The most important sequence of the game was unquestionably the final play of overtime. With the score tied and the clock winding down, New Mexico executed a perfect set piece out of a timeout. The ball found Amaral, who had struggled from deep for much of the night, for a contested three-pointer that found nothing but net, leaving Butler with no time to mount a response.

Beyond the stars, New Mexico received key contributions from Madison Wilson, who grabbed 11 rebounds, and Addison Edwards, who blocked five shots. For Butler, Keegan Yarick scored 10 points and Kenzie Galliart added 12.

The victory marks a signature win for New Mexico, which handed a Butler team that had been projected with an 83.5% probability of victory just its second loss of the season.