HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey women's basketball team came up short in its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, falling 69–64 to Blue Mountain Christian.
 
BMCU struck first with an early jumper from Lena Taylor, but Carey answered quickly behind Shaneal Corpuz as the teams' traded baskets through the opening minutes. Three-pointers from Brooklyn Cuevas and Jenna Garriga pushed the Lady Crusaders ahead 8–4 midway through the quarter.
 
Blue Mountain settled in late, tying the game at 8–8 on a layup from McKenzie Williams. With under a minute remaining, Kathryn Echols connected from deep to give the Toppers an 11–10 lead after the opening period.
 
Carey responded immediately to start the second quarter with back-to-back threes—one from Cuevas and another from Corpuz—to reclaim a 16–13 advantage. After Blue Mountain scored five straight, Addyson Sherer buried a three to put Carey back in front, 19–18.
 
A triple from Lena Taylor momentarily gave the Toppers a 23–19 edge, but Carey closed the half strong. Buckets from Bailey Devall and Leah Sutton, followed by a three-point play from Corpuz in the final minute, sent Carey into halftime up 29–26.
 
Blue Mountain opened the third quarter with another Taylor three to tie the game. After several traded baskets, the Toppers used a 5–0 run to build a 38–33 lead with under seven minutes to play. They maintained control throughout the frame, stretching the advantage to nine before taking a 50–39 lead into the fourth.
 
Carey cut into the deficit early in the final period, scoring the first four points to make it 50–43. However, Blue Mountain kept the Lady Crusaders at arm's length for much of the quarter, never allowing them to get closer than seven until the final minute.
 
With BMCU leading 65–58, Carey mounted one last surge. Sherer drilled a clutch three to pull WCU within four, and Anna Rose Engle followed with a long-range shot of her own to make it 65–62 with 15 seconds left. Forced to foul on the next possession, Carey sent Isabella Carlson to the line, where she hit one of two free throws to help seal the win.
 
Garriga led the Lady Crusaders with 13 points, while Cuevas added 10.
 
William Carey now turns its attention to the SSAC Championship, held February 25–28 at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. The Lady Crusaders open postseason play on Thursday, February 26, against Life University at 8 p.m.