Winfield, Kan. – The Sterling College Lady Warriors fell just short in their road test against the No. 16 Southwestern College Lady Moundbuilders in Winfield on Thursday night, falling to SWC 67-64. Sterling came back from a 16 point deficit with 9:51 to play, tying the game before losing in the final seconds of the ballgame.

Cassi Spleiss (5-8 JR Forward) led Sterling in scoring with 14 points on five of 10 shooting, two of seven from behind the three-point line, and two of four from the free-throw line.

Megan Patrick (6-0 SR Forward) recorded her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points on four of 12 shooting and pulling down 11 rebounds.

Kinsley Hilst (5-10 JR Forward) scored and double figures with 12 points and Lori Dauer (5-11 FR Post) scored 10 points off of the Lady Warrior bench.

Two players scored in double figures for the Lady Moundbuilders. Brett Bates led all scorers with 15 points while Zefiryn Bryan scored 11 points.

Kayla Eilert (5-6 JR Guard) scored the first basket of the game for Sterling, giving the Lady Warriors an early 2-0 lead. That 2-0 lead would be Sterling's only lead of the game.

Southwestern would quickly tie the game then start building their lead. The Lady Moundbuilders would build that lead to 10 with 5:59 left in the first half.

A late first half run by SC would put the Lady Warriors in striking distance at the half with the score Sterling 24, Southwestern 30.

SWC would again build its lead in the second half. With 9:51 left to play, the lead would be 16 points for the Lady Moundbuilders.

Sterling would make a late game run, tying the ballgame on a Hilst fast break basket with 2:47 left in the game.

Dauer would score with 39 seconds remaining to cut Southwestern's lead to one.

Kaitlin Tennyson would get an open layup for SWC with 15 seconds left to push the Southwestern lead to three.

Out of the Lady Warrior timeout, Sterling's Spleiss would get a good look at a three-point shot, but would be unable to convert.

With the loss, Sterling drops to 11-9 on the season, 6-5 in the KCAC. On Saturday, the Lady Warriors will play host to the McPherson College Lady Bulldogs. Game time is 5:00 pm. Watch it live on the Sterling College Sports Network.