Box Score CLINTON, Miss. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) women's basketball team began the regular season of their first season in NCAA Division II with a 65-50 non-conference loss versus the Choctaws of Mississippi College (MC) on Friday night at A.E. Wood Coliseum.

Spring Hill started the game hot with a 7-1 spurt that was sparked by a fast break layup off the tip by senior guard Elissa VandeWaa of Spanish Fort, Ala., but the Choctaws (1-0) responded with a burst of their own to wrest back an 8-7 advantage at the 14:04 mark of the 1st half.

For the next 10 minutes the teams traded baskets with both squads looking to run the floor, but neither managing more than a three-point lead until MC clawed out a 28-23 bulge with 3:43 left in the period. The Badgers continued to fight and trailed just 32-28 at the intermission.

Senior guard Twarner Witherspoon of Thomasville, Ala., opened the 2nd half with two buckets to knot the game up at 32-32 and freshman guard Jewel Hill from St. Luke's Episcopal School in Mobile made it a 34-34 game with a jumper with 13:52 remaining as the teams continued to trade baskets. Sophomore guard Amee Smith of Longview, Texas, connected on a layup at 9:15 to put SHC on top 40-39, but the Choctaws converted two free throws on the other end to regain a 41-39 advantage at 8:31.

Freshman guard Jennifer Clark of Kenner, La., dropped in a 3-pointer to tie the game once again at 43-43, but two free throws by Zaneta Kubicka, a jumper by Mollie Blair and a 3-pointer by Jaianah Matthew for MC made it a 57-48 at 2:38 as the Choctaws began to pull away.

Junior guard Natalie Harper of Greensboro, N.C., had 14 points and Clark collected 13 points to lead the Badgers who shot 27.3% (18-66) from the field and 30% (6-20) from 3-point distance. MC shot 42.2% (19-45) with a 41.7% (5-12) mark from long distance. The Choctaws squeaked out a 41-40 advantage in rebounds.

Spring Hill (0-1) will next host the Lady Argos from the University of West Florida in a non-conference contest on Saturday, November 22, at 2 p.m. in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.