CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Lawrence University women’s basketball team dropped a 60-53 nonconference decision at Clearwater Christian College on Friday night.
Katie Mullens scored 22 points to pace Clearwater Christian (1-6), a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. Kelly Fitchner added 14 points and Krystina Pipersberg added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars.
Alex Deshler paced Lawrence (0-6) with 12 points, and she grabbed nine rebounds. Kanesha Walker added 10 points, and Nakita Chadwick had eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Lawrence jumped out to an 11-0 lead against Clearwater’s man-to-man defense, but the Vikings had trouble once the Cougars went to the zone.
Lawrence hit only 19 of 69 (27.5 percent) shots from the floor and connected on only 3 of 15 (20 percent) shots from 3-point range.
The Cougars rallied in the first half and led 30-25 at the half. Lawrence kept it tight throughout the second half but overcome the Cougars.
Lawrence forced 27 Clearwater Christian turnovers, and Deshler picked up a game-high five steals. The Cougars did shoot a more respectable 40.8 percent (20-49) from the floor and hit on 35 percent (7-20) of its 3-point shots.
Lawrence returns to action next Wednesday when it resumes Midwest Conference play with a game at Knox College.