The Culver-Stockton women's basketball team played with fourth-ranked Central Methodist for three quarters before dropping its Heart of America Athletic Conference game Wednesday night in Fayette, Mo.

The Wildcats and Eagles entered the fourth quarter tied at 53 before the Eagles outscored the visitors 22-8 in the final 10 minutes to post a 75-61 victory at Puckett Fieldhouse.

The loss is the first for the Wildcats in conference play and drops their record to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the league. CMU stays undefeated at 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the Heart.

C-SC, which led 21-15 after the first quarter but trailed 38-34 at halftime, fell behind by as many as 12 points midway through the third quarter when the Eagles' Zutorya Cook made a basket to give the hosts a 48-36 lead.

The Wildcats answered with a 17-5 run over the final five minutes of the quarter to send the game to the final period tied at 53.

CMU took a quick 56-53 lead on a 3-pointer on the first possession of the final period; however, the Wildcats responded with a basket by Katie Webb and a 3-pointer by Whynter Waterhouse-Brennan to take a 58-56 lead with 8:30 left in the game.

Unfortunately, the Wildcats managed just three points the rest of the game while the Eagles outscored the visitors 14-1 over the final six minutes to preserve the victory.

Waterhouse-Brennan, a transfer from Southwestern (Iowa) Community College, had her best game as a Wildcat with her first double-double of the season. She finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Webb added 14 points while McKenzie Lathrom chipped in with 11 markers for the Wildcats. Aaliyah Ortiz turned in another strong floor game with a team-high six assists and three steals.

The Wildcats play their final regular season game of the first semester this Saturday, Dec. 17, at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. Game time is slated for 12 p.m. at the Collins Center.