It was a tale of two halves during the Culver-Stockton women's basketball team's 56-55 loss to MidAmerica Nazarene University Saturday afternoon at Charles Field House.

In the first half, the Wildcats forced 16 turnovers and limited the Pioneers to just four field goals in building a 37-14 halftime lead. 

C-SC, which shot 46 percent (16-35) in the first half, led 16-4 after the first quarter. The Wildcats forced eight turnovers in each of the first three quarters while holding the Pioneers to 16 percent shooting.

However, the second half was the exact opposite of the first.

The Pioneers started to find the range in the third quarter, making seven of their 14 attempts from the field, and outscoring the Wildcats 21-7 in the quarter to pull to within 44-35.

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats continued to struggle from the field and finished the second half with just six field goals on 23 attempts (26 percent).

Meanwhile, MNU, which was 1-for-11 in the first half from the 3-point arc, went 8-for-16 in the second half and that aided its second half comeback. The Pioneers shot 52 percent overall (13-25) in the second half and committed just six turnovers.

The Wildcats placed two players in double figures with Avery Oetting and Olivia Hopp garnering 10 points each. Oetting also totaled a team-best five steals in the game.

Milliana Mozee-Williams led the Wildcats with six rebounds in the game. Nevaiah Bell-Tenner registered five rebounds and four steals to go along with her eight points.

The Wildcats drop to 5-12 overall and 4-9 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. MNU improves to 9-9 overall and 8-6 in the conference.

GAME NOTES:

• The 14 points by MNU in the first half were the fewest allowed by the Wildcats in the opening half this season. Hannibal-LaGrange scored 20 points back on Nov. 4.
• The 18 points by the Wildcats in the second half were the fewest scored in the second 20 minutes of a game this season by C-SC. The previous low was 24 against Grand View on Dec. 9.
• The five steals by Oetting matched her season high. She also had five steals against Missouri Valley on Jan. 10.
• For the third time this season, the Wildcats made just one 3-point field goal in a game, matching their season low.
• The four steals by Bell-Tenner were a career-high.
• Hopp's 10 points is a season-high. It is only the second time in her career she has scored in double figures.
• The Wildcats will play the second game of the four-game homestead this Wednesday, Jan. 24, against William Penn University. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.