CINCINATTI - After a hot start in the beginning, the Lady Barons hit a rough patch in the second quarter that was slightly too much to come back from. Mount St. Joseph topped Franciscan 67-53 Monday evening.

Possession in the first quarter bounced back and forth between the two teams. After the first two points of the game from Mount St. Joseph, Franciscan matched each point. Freshman Angela Starre contributed six of the nine points of the quarter. A good three-pointer from freshman Tessa Crider tied the game up at 9-9. After a foul with twenty seconds left, the Lions sank a free throw, giving them the lead heading into the second quarter.

After a good free throw by freshman Rose Judge, the Lions took control. Two three-pointers started the seven-point scoring run for Mount St. Joseph, which was halted by two good free throws from junior Kaitlyn Sonneberger. The Lions were quick to respond, sinking two more three-pointers and a pair of free throws. Several layups following turnovers by the Lady Barons put the Lions ahead by seventeen points ending the first half.

The Lady Barons started the third quarter with a good three-pointer by senior Gaby DeJesus. Junior Abby Baierl had a jump shot and layup in the paint that cut the lead down to fourteen points. The Lions were quick to answer with a three-pointer and breakaway layup. A turnover by DeJesus with seconds left to go in the fourth was followed by a good layup for Mount St. Joseph.

The Lions held the lead 36-49 starting the fourth quarter. The Lady Barons almost matched each point made in the fourth by the Lions. After a three-pointer made by Mount St. Joseph, senior Raegan Stead quickly responded with a deep three-pointer. Another three-pointer from Crider and a third from Stead put the Lady Barons within six points of the leading Lions. Mount St. Joseph took control of the final minutes of the game scoring twelve points to close out the game. The final score was 53-67.

Franciscan's Raegan Stead lead the team offensively with eighteen points scored, and contributed four rebounds. The team shot 34.6% from the floor, and 33.3% from the three-point line. The Lady Barons went 10-13 from the free throw line.

Franciscan is on the road for their next non-conference matchup to face Houghton College in Beaver Falls Friday December 28 at 6 PM.