The Saint Mary women's basketball team had their recent winning streak come to an end in an overtime loss at Bethany on Saturday. The Spires fell 82-80. The loss makes Saint Mary 15-11 on the season and 12-8 in KCAC play where they currently stand alone in fourth place.

Saint Mary would lead by seven points at the end of the first quarter, but a sluggish second quarter proved costly. The Swedes outscored the Spires 23-9 in the frame and Saint Mary trailed by seven at halftime. Bethany would extend their lead to 16 in the third quarter before Saint Mary rallied. By the end of the third, Saint Mary had pulled within one.

The Spires took the lead with the first bucket of the fourth quarter. The teams went back and forth from there with neither team leading by more than four points in the quarter. The teams would be tied at the end of regulation. In the fouth quarter, Bethany got out to a four point lead and the Spires would not be able to recover. Two free throws got the Spires within one with 57 seconds left, but after a Bethany free throw, the Spires got three more shots to tie or take the lead but all would be no good giving them the 82-80 loss.

Kiera Tate posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Spires. Three other scorers finished in double figures. Tiani White led the way with 17 points. Ashley Hinkle finished with 16 and Candy De Los Reyes added 15. Hinkle led the Spires in assists with four and steals with three as well.

The women's basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday at McPherson. The game is scheduled to begin at 6pm. The Spires fell to the Bulldogs 77-69 at home earlier this season.