Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Despite having three players score in double figures, the Indiana Tech women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season, an 87-85 defeat to Bethel College at the Orthopedic Hospital Classic hosted by the University of St. Francis on Friday night.

The Warriors (1-1) got off to a fast start scoring eight of the first ten points with an 8-2 run, capped by a Ulyssia Richmond three-pointer. It would be short lived though as the Pilots went on a run of their own, outscoring Tech 13-5 over the next four minutes to take a 15-13 lead. The two teams traded baskets until the 5:46 mark in the first half, with a one-point Tech lead, 25-24, the Warriors closed the period on a 16-7 run to take a 10-point lead, 41-31, into the break.

The Orange and Black shot well in the first half, hitting 41.4 percent (12-29) of their shots from the field and going 3-for-8 (37.5%) from behind the three-point line. The Warriors also converted 14-of-21 (66.7%) free throws in the half. Bethel struggled against a tough Tech defense, hitting just 9-of-35 (25.7%) shots in the half; however, five of them were from behind the arc, keeping the Pilots in the game.

Rachel Kruse led all scorers with 17 first half points while Taylor Carver grabbed seven rebounds in the half. Aimee Swihart led the Pilots with nine points while Marissa Coolman grabbed six boards.

It was a different story in the second half as the Pilots didn't back down. After trading baskets in the early going, the Warriors offense slowed, as Bethel went on a 15-6 run, beginning at the 11:44 mark to tie the game at 62 with 9:36 to play. The teams would trade scoring runs, with Tech holding the lead until the 5:10 mark when Taylor Seiss hit a three to give Bethel the 74-73 lead.

The teams tied four more times in the final five minutes, with the final tie coming at 85, with nine seconds to play. After a Kruse foul sent Swihart to the line, the Bethel guard made two shots to take an 87-85 lead with five seconds to play.

Despite a turnover, Tech still had a chance after two missed free throws with three second to play, but the desperation shot fell short and the Warriors couldn't hang on.

Despite outshooting the Pilots 40 percent (24-60) to 37.3 percent (25-67), Bethel won the game behind the arc knocking down 14-of-37 (37.8%) of their threes compared to a 3-for-16 (18.8%) mark for Tech. both teams missed several shots from the charity stripe and both committed 12 turnovers. However, not only did the Pilots win from outside, they also won inside outscoring the Warriors 55-44 in the paint.

Swihart led all scorers with 37 points for the Pilots, including four threes and 13 free throws. Kruse led the way for the Orange and Black with 25 points and five boards while Chelsea Carradine added 14 points and Richmond also finished in double figures with 11, missing a double-double by one board with nine. Sabine Filippovia also just missed a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

The Warriors will conclude play in the Orthopedic Hospital Classic tomorrow at 3 p.m. as they face the hosts, fourth-ranked St. Francis (Ind.).