LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary women's basketball team came up short to Bethany College Saturday afternoon, 70-56 inside the Ryan Sports Center.

The Spires are now 4-19 overall and 4-15 in the KCAC.

Bethany jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Spires cut into the lead late in the first quarter as Macy Walker connected on a two-point basket and a three-point basket to end the quarter. Saint Mary trailed 15-10. Walker opened the second quarter with another long range shot before Dakota Corle tied the score at 15 in the second frame. Both teams traded punches in the second quarter before the Swedes gained an eight-point advantage at halftime, 31-23.

Nese Selepeo scored the first eight points of the second half for USM to cut the deficit to one. Danielle Cassady would later drain a three-pointer to tie the score at 34 with 6:15 left in the third. Saint Mary stayed within reach of Bethany and would trail just 47-42 after three quarters. Trailing 54-46, Rebecca Gilpin hit a three-point shot before Corle hit two free throws as Bethany led 54-51. The Swedes would hit a long range shot 16 seconds later and never looked back, winning 70-56.

Walker led the team with 13 points, while Corle and Cassady had 12. Katie Robinson had a team high 10 rebounds and Cassady tallied five assists.

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The Spires travel to Wichita, Kan. on Wednesday to take on Friends University at 6 p.m.