NASHVILLE - The Lipscomb women’s basketball team fell at home to Kennesaw State on Monday night 74-66. 

The Lady Bisons and the Owls were deadlocked at 13-13 at the end of the first quarter. Following a strong second period, which featured an 11-1 Lipscomb run highlighted by a trio of three-pointers from sophomore Taylor Hammack and freshman Casey Collier, the Purple Gold took a 35-28 lead into the break.

"I'm proud of our kids' fight," Lipscomb women's basketball head coach Lauren Sumski said. "It's never a question of fight for us, it's a question of learning and growing and coming through and making those plays when we need to make them.

"We've done a much better job of that until late. I thought tonight we struggled to score the ball and get stops when we needed to." 

Lipscomb was still holding on to a 56-48 lead after an even third quarter when KSU took over. The Owls started the fourth on a 9-1 run to tie the game at 57. Junior Taylor Clark halted the lead with a basket to regain the lead for Lipscomb. Then KSU preceded to go on a 16-2 run to put the game out of reach.

"They just had players step up and make shots," Sumski said. "I thought we missed some ones that we've been making lately. I don't know if it was fatigue or what it was on our part. 

"We have to find a way to come up with those 50-50 balls and those second shots. We got out-rebounded by 23. We've been getting out-rebounded all year long, but not to that deficit. 

Clark finished the game with a team-high 21 points on 8-16 shooting and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. She added a team-best two blocks and one steal.

Freshman Jalyn Holcomb notched 12 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds and swiped on steal. 

Hammack scored a career-high 11 points on a perfect 4-4 from the field, including 3-3 from downtown. She also made two steals. 

Collier added 11 points, four rebounds, and one steal. 

"We're trying to be a team that never quits," Sumski said. "It doesn't matter who we're up against, we don't reallt care, it's all about us getting better and better each night."

Lipscomb falls to 4-13 (1-3) with the loss, while KSU improves to 7-7 (1-2).

HERD NOTES:

• Alexis Poole paced KSU with 27 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Carlotta Gianolla had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Breanna Hoover added 15 points. 
• Seven Lady Bisons played 10 or more minutes. Collier logged the most with 37 minutes played. 
• Senior Carleigh Short tied her career high and led the team with three steals. 
• KSU out-rebounded Lipscomb 43-20, and had a 15-11 assists advantage. 
• Lipscomb was 9-11 from the free throw line. Short was 3-3 in addition to Clark’s perfect mark. 

UP NEXT: Lipscomb will hit the road on Saturday for a trip to Liberty. Tip is set for 3 p.m.