Clinging to a two-point lead, with the clock winding down, Penn State guard Mashea Williams drove to the basket and delivered an errant pass into the hands of Michigan's Jessica Minnfield.
But before Penn State assistant coach Itoro Coleman had time to react to the turnover, Lady Lions' guard Brianne O'Rourke returned the favor, picking Minnfield's pocket and securing the team's first road victory of the season, 64-56, Monday night in Ann Arbor.
"That was an unbelievable play to make that kind of a play with 10 seconds left," Coleman told the Penn State Sports Network.
Instead of retreating on defense, O'Rourke stepped in front of Minnfield, who was turning to sprint up court, slapped at the ball with her right hand, and seized the ball with her left.
Coleman said the clean steal was especially impressive because the senior guard did so with four fouls.
"I thought Bri did a great job of holding her composure during the last few minutes," Coleman said. "Especially the last play, making the steal without fouling."
It was the Lady Lions' first road win since Jan. 5, 2008 against Michigan State.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Penn State, who improved to 9-13 (4-8 Big Ten).
Coleman, who said head coach Coquese Washington has stressed a balanced scoring attack all season long, said she was impressed with the Lady Lions balanced attack Monday that featured six players with at least eight points.
Tyra Grant led all scorers with 15 points, including two free throws after an intentional foul on Michigan's Carly Benson to ice the game.
Julia Trogele, who returned to the lineup after missing Thursday's game with an ankle sprain, added 11 points and 8 boards.
Coleman said Trogele, and the rest of the post players were one of the main reasons for Penn State's success.
"I thought they did a good job on the boards," she said. "The way they battled with the Michigan post players tonight was great."
Freshman Zhaque Gray scored 11 points, all coming during a back-and-forth first half. Her 3-pointer at the end of the first half gave the Lady Lions a three-point lead heading into the break.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half, before Penn State appeared to be pulling away, taking a nine-point lead with just over five minutes to play. But Michigan went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 58-56, setting the stage for O'Rourke's game-saving steal.
