The Lawrence University women’s basketball team made a late run on Saturday at Alexander Gymnasium, but Beloit College hung on for a 58-50 Midwest Conference victory.
Lauren McNanna came off the bench to lead Beloit (3-7, 1-4 MWC) with 13 points. Amanda Moore added 12 points for the Bucs.
Nakita Chadwick, Kathy Caye and Alex Deshler scored 11 points apiece to pace Lawrence (0-10, 0-5). Deshler also had a game-high eight rebounds.
Beloit went on a 14-4 run midway through the second half to build a 51-34 lead with 8:03 remaining. Lawrence was down 54-40 after McNanna hit a 3-pointer with 4:34 left, but the Vikings battled back.
Kaye scored three consecutive points on free throws, but McNanna answered with a jumper for Beloit. Kaye hit two more free throws with 1:10 left to trim the lead to 56-45.
After a missed free throw by Beloit, Chadwick scored on a layup to cut the lead to 56-47. The Bucs then missed a pair of free throws, and Deshler buried a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to cut the margin to 56-50.
Jenny Peterson converted a free throw for Beloit with 27 seconds left, and Lawrence turned the ball over to snuff out any further chance of a comeback.
The Vikings scored the first five points of the game, but Beloit came back and scored 10 consecutive points. Beloit built a 14-10 lead midway through the first half, but Lawrence went on a 10-2 run, capped by Katie Van Es’ jumper, to take a 20-16 lead with 5:07 left in the opening half.
Beloit outscored the Vikings 13-3 over the final 4:49 of the first half to take a 29-23 lead at the break.
Lawrence returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Carroll University.