WALESKA, Ga.— The Montreat women's basketball team traveled to Georgia on Wednesday to take on the Reinhardt University Eagles. Though the Cavaliers fought admirably to extend their win streak to six games, the Cavs fell by a score of 77-61, dropping to 6-4 (4-3 AAC) on the season in the process.
 
Strict Montreat defense held Reinhardt to just one make on the Eagles' first seven shot attempts, which translated to a 5-2 Cavalier advantage early in the opening frame thanks to buckets by Destiny Lewis and Mariya Williams.
 
Both teams initially struggled to connect on tries from the field but settled into the game and traded blows for the remainder of the quarter. Ultimately, a short 10-5 run by the home team put RU up 18-15 after 10 minutes.
 
After two consecutive Montreat baskets to give the Cavaliers a 19-18 lead early in the second frame, Reinhardt responded with a 12-4 stretch to build the largest advantage for either team in the first half at seven (30-23). The Cavs continued to press and immediately answered with a run of their own. Over 4:07 of gametime, the visitors scored eight straight to lead 31-30 with 1:28 left in the period.

"For the first 20 minutes, I thought we played one of our best halves of the year," began head coach Tim Lewis. "We found ways to get stops and shared the ball selflessly, which led to points."
 
Despite better shooting, the Cavs trailed 32-31 with 20 minutes to play. The Eagles grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, which helped their 29.5 percent shooting half (13-44 FG), while Montreat made 12 of 34 field goals (35.3 percent). Caleigh Raby led all players with 10 first-half points, and Jessyka Leak added eight.
 
The Cavaliers came out of the gates on fire to start the third quarter, converting on their opening three attempts and retaking the lead with a 9-0 run to go up by eight 2:06 into the period. Reinhardt chipped away at its deficit, knotting the game at 44 with 4:13 remaining in the quarter and taking a two-point edge shortly after.
 
With 10 minutes left in the game, the Eagles turned their eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead following a 24-8 stretch to close the quarter.
 
Reinhardt (5-5, 4-1 AAC) continued its run with nine straight points to begin the final frame, expanding its lead to double figures while holding the Cavaliers without a make for 4:05. That proved to be all the separation the home team needed to close out the contest as the Eagles outscored Montreat 45-30 in the second half to win by 16.

"We knew a good team like Reinhardt would come out fighting in the second half. We'll get back to work and get ready for Saturday," Coach Lewis finished.
 
Rebounding and play in the paint were important to the outcome of the game. Though RU missed all 14 of its attempts from deep (0-14 FG), the Eagles out-rebounded the Cavs 50-30, including 23 offensive rebounds on the day, resulting in 15 more shot attempts, a 17-4 edge in second-chance points, and a 50-22 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Raby concluded the matchup with 14 points, while Leak ended her day with 10. Williams rounded out the Cavaliers in double-figures in scoring with 12 points and narrowly missed out on a double-double, snatching a team-high nine boards.
 
Women's Basketball returns to action on Saturday inside McAlister Gymnasium. Tipoff against the Kentucky Christian University Knights is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.