ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team fell to SMWC 71-67 on Saturday.
 
A layup by Karly Sweeney and a jumper by Linzie Wernert gave IU Southeast a 4-3 lead early in the first quarter. SMWC used a 5-2 run to take an 8-6 lead halfway through the first quarter.
 
A free throw by Ella Brown and a three by Jesse Ledgerwood gave IU Southeast a 10-8 edge. SMWC tied the game at 10-10, but another three by Jesse Ledgerwood made it 13-10 IU Southeast.
 
IU Southeast maintained a three-point lead at 17-14, but a SMWC three tied the game at 17-17. Linzie Wernert connected on a layup to make it 19-17, but two free throws by SMWC sent the game into the second quarter tied at 19-19.
 
Back-to-back threes by Jesse Ledgerwood and Lexi Starr gave IU Southeast a 25-19 lead to open the second quarter. SMWC cut the lead to two at 25-23, but a Makenna Wilson jumper made it 27-23 Grenadiers.
 
A SMWC basket made it 27-25, but another layup by Makenna Wilson extended the Grenadier lead back to four at 29-25. Once again, SMWC cut the lead to two at 29-27, but another basket by Makenna Wilson put IU Southeast ahead 31-27.
 
Back-to-back threes by SMWC gave the Pomeroys a 33-31 edge. Makenna Wilson answered with a three to give IU Southeast a 34-33 lead going into the half.
 
A SMWC layup to open the third quarter gave the Pomeroys a 35-34 lead. The teams traded baskets as the score was knotted up at 40-40 two minutes into the second half.
 
Two free throws by Lexi Starr and a layup by Jesse Ledgerwood put IU Southeast ahead 44-40. A layup by SMWC cut it to two at 44-42, but a three by Makenna Wilson gave the Grenadiers a 47-42 edge.
 
SMWC answered with two threes and a layup to jump ahead 50-47. IU Southeast responded with two Taylor Treat layups and a pair of Ella Brown free throws to give the Grenadiers a 53-50 advantage. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 54-54.
 
A Linzie Wernert layup gave IU Southeast a 56-54 lead to open the fourth quarter, but a SMWC three put the Pomeroys ahead 57-56. A Jesse Ledgerwood free throw tied the game at 57-57.
 
Another SMWC three gave the Pomeroys a 60-57 lead with 5:54 remaining. Back-to-back layups by Linzie Wernert put the Grenadiers back ahead 61-60 with 4:45 left.
 
A Lexi Starr layup with 3:37 remaining gave the Grenadiers a 63-60 lead, but SMWC answered with a layup of their own to cut the lead back to one at 63-62. Another layup by the Pomeroys made it 64-63, but Jesse Ledgerwood answered with a layup of her own to put the Grenadiers back in front 65-64 with 2:46 remaining.
 
A SMWC jumper with 1:43 left gave the Pomeroys a 66-65 edge. IU Southeast had a layup attempt to put them ahead, but SMWC forced a stop and connected on a free throw at the other end to make it 67-65.
 
IU Southeast missed another layup, and SMWC went 1-2 at the free throw line to take a 68-65 lead with 43 seconds left. SMWC forced a missed shot by IU Southeast and connected on a pair of free throws to take a 70-65 lead with 14 seconds remaining.
 
Karly Sweeney hit a layup to cut the SMWC lead to three, but SMWC hit another free throw to clinch a 71-67 win.
 
"Although I'm disappointed with the outcome, there are many positives to take from this game," IU Southeast interim head coach Derek Sims said. "We still need to play a cleaner game. It goes back to the details I've talked about previously. We're getting there, but I want to see results faster. We let this one get away during this difficult conference stretch."
 
Jesse Ledgerwood led IU Southeast with 15 points off the bench. Makenna Wilson had 14 points and a team-high three steals. Linzie Wernert recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Lexi Starr had nine points, four rebounds, and four assists. Taylor Treat had six points and a team-high seven assists.
 
IU Southeast (5-6, 0-2 RSC) returns to action on Tuesday for a road conference game at Oakland City.