Ottawa, Kan. —Spire basketball dropped a road contest to the Braves this evening despite a late surge fueled by a barrage of 3-pointers from Addison Tower. USM came up just short in a 71-76 in Ottawa, Kansas.

Impressively, the Spires nearly erased a 13-point halftime deficit, outscoring Ottawa 41-33 after the break and trimming the margin to single digits behind hot perimeter shooting. Saint Mary posted 20 points in the third quarter and 21 more in the fourth, but Ottawa's early cushion and advantage at the free-throw line held up in the closing minutes.

The Braves controlled the first half, opening with a 22-15 first quarter and extending its lead with a 21-15 second quarter to take a 43-30 lead into the locker room. The Spires adjusted well after halftime, tightening defensively and finding from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to 59-50 by the end of the third quarter. USM continued to chip away in the fourth, but Ottawa converted key free throws and managed possessions late to close out the five-point win.

Tower led all scorers with a game-high 26 points, connecting on eight 3-pointers and finishing 9 of 16 from the field in 35 minutes. Her shooting sparked the second-half push and helped her Spire teammates finish 15 of 36 (41.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Saige Grampsas added a strong all-around performance with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, while Keely Barnard chipped in 10 points, including two 3-pointers, and 3 assists in 39 minutes.

As a team, the Spires shot 27 of 65 (41.5 percent) from the floor and matched Ottawa with 17 assists while committing just 11 turnovers. Saint Mary also generated six steals and two blocks on the defensive end. However, Ottawa built a decisive edge by hitting 15 of 17 (88.2 percent) at the stripe.

The Braves balance proved to be the difference. Schutte paced the Braves with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and Kruger registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to help Ottawa to a 42-33 advantage on the glass. Both teams finished with 26 made field goals or more and 17 assists, but the Braves' rebounding margin and trips to the line ultimately separated the sides.
Saint Mary's strong response after halftime, highlighted by Tower's perimeter shooting and Grampsas' two-way production, showcased the Spires' grit in KCAC play.

Up next, the Spires stay on the road as they travel to Swede territory on Saturday, January 24^th with tip-off slated for 5:00 p.m. in Lindsborg, Kansas.