WALESKA, Ga.— Playing against a tough opponent in the Reinhardt University Eagles on the road, the Montreat women's basketball team made a few too many mistakes, which eventually contributed to a 65-52 defeat in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest Wednesday night. With the loss, the Cavaliers are now 6-2 overall and 5-2 in AAC action.
 
Montreat's defense started the game strong, holding Reinhardt to just one make on its initial seven tries from the field. That, coupled with buckets from three different Cavaliers, gave the visitors an early 7-3 advantage. RU, who is receiving votes in the latest version of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, stormed back, scoring the ensuing five points and extending its run to a 12-2 stretch as the Eagles led 15-9 with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. The Cavs were able to close the gap to four through 10 minutes thanks to seven points from Makayla Thompson, but the home side led 17-13 after hitting six of its last eight shots of the frame.
 
After a pair of makes built the RU edge out to eight (21-13) early in the second, Thompson responded with back-to-back baskets and Triniti Lockhart connected to trim the deficit to a single possession (21-19) 2:34 into the period. Reinhardt (9-3, 8-0 AAC) then established a double-digit lead by scoring the next 10 points of the contest, including two layups off turnovers in transition to go up 31-19 with 50 seconds left until halftime. Thirteen points off 12 Montreat turnovers, as well as an 18-12 rebounding advantage, helped the Eagles outscore the Cavs 16-8 in the second quarter to lead 33-21 at the break.
 
Thompson captained the Cavaliers with 11 first-half points, while Mariya Williams snatched a team-best four boards over the opening 20 minutes of play. RU shot 48.4 percent from the field (15-31 FG) compared to Montreat's 34.6 percent (9-26 FG). The Eagles also kept the Cavaliers without a make from deep through seven tries and drained a pair of attempts from behind the arc on 11 shots (18.2 percent).
 
Despite four quick points from Thompson to begin the third frame, 10 from Reinhardt built its lead to 18 just 3:20 into the second half. From that point on in the quarter, the Cavaliers controlled play, utilizing offensive rebounds to create second-chance opportunities and cut into the home team's lead. Five separate Cavs powered Montreat to a 14-4 end to the period, highlighted by a Chesnee Freeman 3-pointer, the squad's first of the night, as well as six consecutive points by Williams to finish the frame, including a buzzer-beating second-chance putback to cut the deficit to eight (47-39).
 
Williams converted from the free throw line a mere 13 seconds into the final quarter to make it a 7-point ballgame as the Cavaliers kept the spread at single digits for the opening couple minutes of the fourth. Williams concluded the night with 10 points (4-7 FG) and a game-high 12 rebounds to complete her fourth double-double of the year.
 
Tenacity on the boards was not enough to overcome several turnovers as Reinhardt extended its advantage to double figures with 7:23 left and held its lead by at least 11 points for the remainder of the competition.
 
Montreat outrebounded the Eagles 35-30, including 13-6 on the offensive glass, but RU led the Cavs in turnovers created (23-17), while producing 25 points off turnovers to the visitors' two. Reinhardt outshot the Cavaliers both overall (50.9 percent to 36.4 percent) and from deep (21.1 percent to 14.3 percent). Thompson finished with a team-best 16 points, Freeman led bench players with eight points and Adrianna Gullette captained the Cavs with three assists.
 
"Reinhardt outplayed us in every aspect of the game," said head coach Josh Thompson. "We'll learn from it and keep getting better."
 
Women's basketball now plays a non-conference matchup with Warren Wilson College on Sunday. Tipoff in Swannanoa, N.C. is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.