RIO GRANDE, Ohio- The Lindsey Wilson women's basketball team fell to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Ind.) Friday afternoon 67-53 on the first day of the Bevo Francis Classic.

The Blue Raiders offense was led by Saniyah Shelton, and Jarie Thomas with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Lindsey Wilson shot 39.3 percent from the field and 80 percent from the charity stripe connecting on eight of 10. 

To start the game, Lindsey Wilson went on an 8-0 run led by Taylor Guess that lasted 1:11 after SMWC struck first on offense. Although the Blue Raiders started off hot offensively, with 4:21 left to play in the first quarter both teams went through a scoring drought that lasted 3:10 that was eventually ended by a Pomeroy layup from Destiny Thomas at 1:11. Lindsey Wilson struggled offensively only scoring two points in the last 5:24 of play making the score 16-14 at the end of the first in favor of the Blue Raiders. 

Thomas got the offense going in the second quarter for the Blue Raiders on an offensive rebound and put-back with 8:37 to play in the first half. With 5:34 on the clock, the Pomeroys went on a 10-0 run that lasted 3:02 extending the SMWC lead to 33-25. The Blue Raiders closed out the second half on a 6-2  run with an assist by Claire Fleming on a Taylor Guess layup with 0:09 seconds left, to cut the Pomeroy's lead to 35-31 at the end of the first half. Lindsey Wilson's Shelton, and SMWC's Madison Fueger lead all scores with 10 points apiece. 

The Blue Raiders offensive and defensive struggles continued in the second half with the Pomeroy's going on a 16-2 run that lasted 4:52 led by Aubrey Burgess who had nine of the 16 points pushing the SMWC lead 51-33. Fleming put a stop to the Blue Raider offensive drought knocking down two free throws at 4:16 and a Natalie Gentry offensive rebound and put-back at 3:24 cutting the Pomeroy lead 51-37. Lindsey Wilson continued to fight back and trimmed what was an 18-point lead for SMWC down to 12 off of an assist by Fleming on a Janiya Davis layup. The Blue Raiders were held to just eight points in the third quarter. 

With 10 minutes left in the second half, the Blue Raiders trailed 56-39. Defensive and offensive woes proved to be too much with crucial turnovers happening down the stretch. The Blue Raiders, despite fighting till the end, fell to the Pomeroy's on the first day of the Bevo Francis Classic receiving their first loss of the season. 

The Blue Raiders will be back in action on Saturday at 4 PM CT in Rio Grande, Ohio to take on Rio Grande (Ohio), on the second day of the Bevo Francis Classic.