TERRE HAUTE, Indiana - The Mount St. Joseph women's basketball team returned to HCAC action on Wednesday night at Hulbert Arena but was unable to overcome a strong first half by Rose-Hulman, falling 71-57 in conference play.
The Lions found themselves playing from behind early as Rose-Hulman set the tone in the opening quarter, building an 18-11 advantage. MSJ battled defensively but struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm, and the Engineers extended their lead in the second quarter with a 20-9 run to take a 38-20 cushion into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Mount St. Joseph showed renewed energy on both ends of the floor. The Lions matched Rose-Hulman's intensity in the third quarter and continued to compete into the fourth, where MSJ produced its best offensive stretch of the night. Mount outscored the Engineers 26-17 in the final quarter, cutting into the deficit and showing resilience down the stretch.
Karlee Mills led all scorers for the Lions with 24 points, attacking the basket and converting consistently at the free throw line while also dishing out four assists. Sam Price added 10 points and five rebounds, providing a steady presence inside. Despite the late surge, Rose-Hulman's balanced scoring and early separation proved too much to overcome.
Mount St. Joseph will look to build off the strong fourth-quarter performance as the Lions continue conference play and aim to turn competitive efforts into wins moving forward.
