A bizarre mistake during a US college women’s basketball game saw New Mexico State player Emma Cristiano accidentally score in her own team’s basket against Southern Utah, creating confusion in the closing seconds.
The incident occurred on Friday with just 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. New Mexico State were leading 61-60 when Cristiano intercepted a pass from the opposition and moved quickly towards the basket.
However, she mistakenly put the ball into her own team’s basket, handing two points to Southern Utah.
The commentators initially appeared to mistake the play for a successful score by New Mexico State before one of them quickly identified the error.
Cristiano also celebrated briefly before realising what had happened and covering her face in embarrassment.
New Mexico State Stage Dramatic Comeback
Despite the costly mistake, New Mexico State players managed to recover in the final moments.
Stacy Chouvino scored the decisive basket with just two seconds remaining, securing a narrow 64-63 victory for New Mexico State.
In another unusual incident on the same day, a player also accidentally scored an own basket during a college basketball game in Arkansas.