The Culver-Stockton College women's basketball team suffered a critical blow to its postseason chances Wirth a 56-42 home loss to Mount Mercy University Wendy night at Charles Field House.

The loss drops the Wildcats into a four-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot with three games remaining. C-SC is tied with Peru State, Park and Graceland with an 8-13 league mark. The Wildcats conclude their season next week with games at Graceland and Park, respectively. C-SC and Peru State split the season series.

A brutal first half was the Wildcats' downfall against the Mustangs.

C-SC committed 16 first half turnovers and scored a season-low 11 first half points in trailing 33-11 at the intermission. The Wildcats trailed 47-26 through three quarters before outscoring the visitors 16-9 in the final period.

The Wildcats finished with 23 turnovers in the game with the Mustangs taking advantage and scoring 24 points off those miscues.

The 42 total points by the Wildcats were the second fewest this season, just a notch above the 39 points scored against Grand View on Dec. 9. The 15 field goals by the Wildcats matches their season low, which they accomplished against Columbia in the first game of the season.

Katie Webb was the only Wildcat to reach double figures, netting 11 points for the Wildcats off the bench. Ashton Bowers, Avery Oetting, and Aaliyah Ortiz all scored eight points each. 

The Wildcats out-rebounded the Mustangs 40-33 in theme with Oetting leading all players with seven caroms. Ortiz continued to play a good floor game with six assist and four steals.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play their final home fame this Saturday, Feb. 17, against Baker University at Charles Field House. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

• The Wildcats have held opponents to 59 points or less nine times this season. C-SC is 6-3 in those games.
• C-SC is 1-8 when scoring 59 points or less this season. The Wildcats have scored 49 points or less four times this season.
• The Wildcats, who are shooting 72 percent from the free throw line this season were a season-low 50 percent from the free throw line, going 8-for-16 against the Mustangs.