STAFFORD, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University women's basketball team took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter, but couldn't find the mark in the final 10 minutes as the Wildcats dropped a 61-53 decision to the North American Stallions Saturday afternoon at the Stafford Municipal School District Gymnasium.
 
Louisiana Christian (1-7, 0-2 RRAC) led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter as Kylei Leblanc, who returned to action after missing the last two games with injury, hit a three-pointer to put the Wildcats up 43-34 with less than three minutes left in the period.
 
However, North American (5-0, 3-0 RRAC) started their run there, scoring the final six points of the quarter to cut LCU's advantage down to 43-40 at period's end. That extended into the fourth quarter as the Stallions scored the first 12 points of the final 10 minutes to make it an 18-0 run and take a 52-43 lead with six minutes left.
 
LCU cut that deficit down to four points with a 5-0 push as Carlea Owens put back a missed shot to make it 52-48 with 4:30 remaining. However, NAU had another run to put the game away, scoring the next nine points to take its largest lead of the contest at 61-48 with just less than 2:30 left.
 
In her return to the court, Leblanc was the only Wildcat to score in double figures, finishing the game with 14 points. She also grabbed five rebounds, dished out an assist, and came up with a steal.
 
Amiyah Simpkins and Maddison Carey both finished the game with nine points. Simpkins added four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Carey contributed a rebound and an assist as well.
 
While scoring six points, Owens owned the boards with 11 rebounds and a block to go with three assists.
 
Kateria Gooden came off the bench to score eight points, grab seven rebounds, and block four shots.
 
LCU finished the game hitting 35.3 percent from the field, but was four-of-five from deep, hitting at an 80 percent clip from beyond the arc.
 
The Wildcats return home looking to get back in the win column on Thursday as Texas A&M-Texarkana comes to Pineville. Tip-off of Thursday's contest against the Eagles (3-5, 2-1 RRAC) is set for 5:30 p.m. at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.