The Montreat College women's basketball team has played remarkably few close contests this season, with only two of their first fourteen games decided by fewer than ten points (as Montreat compiled an 11-3 record).  However, one sign that the Cavaliers have entered the crucible of Appalachian Athletic Conference play is that their last three games have been extremely tight with Montreat losing in overtime on January 6, winning by three on January 13, and, in their most recent game, dropping a tough 1-point decision to AAC rival Union College, 62-61.Montreat's loss leaves them at 3-4 in the AAC and 12-5 overall with more conference battles looming.  The Cavaliers' balanced attack - Stephanie Morrison scored 12 and Alicia Wallace, Chaecie Bullock, and Anjelica Jackson all added 10 - was barely outpaced by the Bulldogs, who were led by Brooke Smith's 23 points.

After the Cavaliers scraped out a 61-60 lead with 20 seconds remaining, Union rebounded a missed free throw and scored a tough leaner with 2.8 seconds left.  A Cavalier three-pointer attempted at the buzzer missed.

Head Coach Craig Jackson shook his head at the outcome, noting that the squandered ending made for "a tough way to lose.  We played well and had a great chance to win a home conference game."

Senior guard Kera Bryant agreed, adding that "losing a one-point game is harder emotionally than losing by ten points."  

Jackson's squad can get back to its winning ways on Wednesday, January 20 when they travel to Bristol, Virginia to face Virginia Intermont College.  The Cobras have struggled to a 0-7 AAC mark and are 2-17 overall, so the Cavaliers will look to claim a conference win.  

Montreat next plays at home on Saturday, January 23 at 5:30 when Milligan College visits.  Milligan leads the AAC at 5-2, so the women would love a loud home crowd while they bid to upset the Buffaloes.