The women’s basketball team battled against Benedictine University in its conference season opener but was unable to clinch the win, losing 73-62 Tuesday.

Senior Kaitlin Schneden led the team putting up 11 points and grabbing six rebounds. Junior Tayler Stacks followed scoring 10 points for the ‘Cats.

Despite a strong offensive performance, weak defense left the ‘Cats unable to battle back against Benedictine’s power players in the paint.

“Their posts outplayed our team,” Schneden said. “They played a really good game, and they had a couple people come off the bench that gave them a boost of energy, and we just couldn’t match it throughout the game.”

The ‘Cats kept the lead through the beginning of the first half but a rush from Benedictine left the women trailing by one point going into the second half.

“We had a pretty good first half until about the last seven or eight minutes, and then we went kind of flat and gave up some three-point looks that got Benedictine back in the game,” head coach Susan Decker said.

Along with an impressive performance from the field for Benedictine, offensive rebounding and put backs in the net left the ‘Cats playing catch up through the second half.

“Benedictine out rebounded us, and I think that is what hurt us,” Schneden said. “A couple shots wouldn’t go down, and it was just one and done with our team, whereas they would get the offensive rebound and get several shots.”

In the end, the ‘Cats were unable to make up the lost ground.

“There were some key plays where we needed to get some stops, and we just couldn’t do it,” senior Kendra Schaefer said. “They shot really well from the three-point line, and we just couldn’t close out on shooters.”

The ‘Cats are now looking to Saturday as they face Lindenwood University in their first home conference game. Coach Decker said she has high expectations for her seniors to bring the team back together after Tuesday’s loss.