The Carthage women's basketball team (4-3, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) fell to Clarke University (8-5), 62-51, on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Kehl Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
 
Alexis Hahn (Jr., Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park) opened the game against Clarke with a layup at the 19:42 mark, but the Crusaders quickly responded and created a 10-point lead, 15-5 over the Lady Reds. Carthage pulled within five, 10-15, with a three by Erin Thomas (Jr., Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) at the 12:35 mark, however, Clarke continued to capitalize on their lead, pulling ahead 25-19. The Crusaders closed out the first half, leading the Lady Reds 35-21.
 
Carthage came out strong in the second closing the gap to 28-33, with a three-pointer from Thomas at the 17:56 mark. The Lady Reds came within four, 31-35, after a foul by the Crusader's Breeland Prochaska, sent Taylor Boardman (Jr., Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) to the line for two. However, Clarke got on a run and created leads of 43-33, 50-40, and 57-44. The Crusaders closed out the game, 62-51.
 
Carthage shot 40 percent (15-38), including four-of-16 three-pointers, while Clarke shot 33 percent (14-43), with two-of-nine from the three-point range. The Lady Reds connected 17-of-29 from the free-throw line, while the Crusaders made 32-of-36. Clarke out-rebound Carthage by a 32-27 margin, and had only 19 turnovers compared to the Lady Red's 21.
 
Hahn and Erin Quinn (Sr., Island Lake, Ill./Mundelein-Carmel Catholic) led Carthage with 13 points each. Hahn scoring on six-of-eight field goals with five rebounds, while Quinn scored on four-of-six field goals with five-of-seven from the line. Allison Riley (Sr., Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy) collected eight rebounds and three assists, while only scoring two points, and teammate Thomas had 10 points on three-of-nine, including two-of-six from the three-point range. Breeland Prochaska led the Crusaders with 22 points and four rebounds.
 
Carthage will travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., to play in the 2014 Eckerd College "St. Pete Classic," on Dec. 19-20, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Eckerd College McArthur Center.