A woman who accuses Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of forcing himself on her during a high school party in the early 1980s has come forward publicly for the first time, detailing the allegation to The Washington Post, which published her story Sunday.

Speaking to the publication, Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University in California, alleges that Kavanaugh, then a student at Georgetown Preparatory School in Maryland, entered a room drunk, pinned her to a bed, and groped her over her clothing. Kavanaugh then attempted to undress her while he and his classmate, Mark Judge, both laughed "maniacally," she said.

She claimed that when she tried to scream, Kavanaugh covered her mouth. Ford also told the Post she was concerned that Kavanaugh "might inadvertently kill me. He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing."

Kavanaugh has flatly denied assaulting anyone. Ford originally hesitated to tell her story, and did not discuss it with anyone until 2012, when she relayed the encounter to a therapist, the newspaper said. Those session notes were viewed by a Post reporter but could not be verified immediately by CNBC. She decided to come forward now, according to the article, because she wanted to be the one to tell her own story.

Ford engaged a prominent D.C. attorney, Debra Katz, who advised her to take a polygraph test in order to rebuff criticism of her if she came forward. The results of the test, which she took in early August, indicated that Ford was being truthful, according to Post.

At least one Republican member of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Jeff Flake, told the Post on Sunday that Ford "must be heard" and urged the panel not to vote on Kavanaugh's nomination until it can hear from her. Republicans hold only an 11-10 majority on the committee, so Flake's vote could make a difference.

The committee has completed its hearings on Kavanaugh and plans to vote on Thursday on his nomination to the lifetime position. A positive vote would set up a debate following by a vote in the full Senate.