WISE, Va. - The Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team (5-4, 4-4 SAC) fought valiantly inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center Wednesday evening, but were unable to get over the hump as they fell to UVA Wise (7-1, 7-1) by a score of 78-63.

The Cavs got off to an excellent start as Caitlyn Ross and Kalee Johnson made jumpers to give them a 4-0 lead. A Lindsay Proffitt bucket stopped the early run and two Lauren Flowers free throws tied the score. A Nia Vanzant layup and another Johnson basket gave UVA Wise a four point lead before Proffitt made a three to slash the lead to one. Vanzant and Grace Day then traded baskets before the Cavs scored the last three points of the period to take a 13-9 lead.

The second period saw Meg Crawford score consecutive baskets to stretch the lead to eight, forcing an LMU timeout. Proffitt hit another three pointer coming out of the break before the teams traded buckets. A Jordan Maney three pointer cut the lead to 20-17, but the Cavs responded with a 7-0 run to take a double digit lead. Proffitt's thrird three of the half cut the lead to seven, but Crawford scored twice more. Each team scored twice before Johnson hit two free throws, giving UVA Wise a 13 point halftime lead.

Flowers and Day opened the scoring out of the locker room to slice the lead to single digits, but the Cavs scored five points to extend it back to 14. Flowers and Kassidy Kenny got the lead back to ten before UVA Wise went on a 6-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 16 points (48-32). The teams then traded baskets for several minutes; then the Cavs scored the final six points of the period to build a 19 point lead. Lexi Kiser made a layup a few seconds before the buzzer to get LMU within 17 at the end of three.

The Lady Railsplitters continued to battle hard in the fourth quarter as Nakia Weston and Kiser opened the scoring. After two Johnson free throws and a Mackenzie King layup, Day and Flowers combined for six points to cut the lead to 11. Later on, a Day layup closed the lead to 10, but UVA Wise scored the next four points. Kiser and Crawford traded baskets before an and-one by Crawford extended the lead to 17 at 78-61. Flowers made a layup to provide the final margin.

Flowers and Proffitt led the scoring charge with 14 points each and combined for ten rebounds. Kiser added 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists while Day notched career highs in points (12), rebounds (11), and minutes (36) in recording her first double-double.

LMU will be back in action this coming Saturday as they take on Catawba inside the friendly confines of B. Frank "Tex" Turner Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.