LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - The University of Saint Mary women's basketball team battled hard but fell short on the road against Oklahoma Wesleyan, losing 73-59 in a physical road matchup.

Despite keeping the game close through the first three quarters, Saint Mary struggled to match the depth and efficiency of the Eagles, who used a strong bench effort and timely scoring runs to secure the victory. The Spires came out strong, taking an early three-point lead within the first two minutes, but the game quickly became a back-and-forth affair. Both teams traded leads 12 times and were tied on four occasions during the first half, with Oklahoma Wesleyan holding a narrow 35-33 advantage at halftime.

In the second half, Saint Mary's offense struggled to find rhythm against the Eagles' defense. Oklahoma Wesleyan capitalized on a 45-23 bench scoring advantage and Saint Mary's 13 turnovers, which the Eagles converted into 16 points. The Spires, on the other hand, struggled to make the most of their opportunities, shooting just 6.3% from beyond the arc and failing to record any assists throughout the game.

Demi Aamold led the Spires with 16 points, shooting an efficient 7-for-14 from the field. Alanis Delgado added 11 points and five rebounds, while Paige Spencer provided a spark off the bench with 10 points on 4-for-5 free-throw shooting.

Saint Mary showed strength in the paint, outscoring the Eagles 32-22 inside and pulling down five offensive rebounds. However, the team's shooting struggles and inability to create scoring opportunities proved costly as Oklahoma Wesleyan pulled away late, extending their lead to as much as 14 points in the final minute.

Up Next:

The Spires are now 7-8 overall and have a 6-3 conference record. They will look to bounce back as they continue their road trip this weekend on Saturday, January 11th at 3pm against Bethel. Tip-off is set for 3:00 PM.