MISHAWAKA, Ind. - The IU Kokomo women's basketball team made the trip to Mishawaka Saturday to take on the Pilots of Bethel (Ind.) in an NAIA non-conference matchup. Despite holding a narrow two-point lead at halftime, the Cougars came up short 57-55.

IU Kokomo forward Mia Catey scored the first six points of the game for an early six-point Cougar lead, as the combination of Catey and Anna Kiser allowed the Cougars to dominate in the paint.

First year head coach Lisa Pflueger's squad led by as many as seven in the first quarter, but Bethel ended the period strong to even the score at 13 apiece after one.

The Pilots managed to grab their first lead of the game in the opening minutes of the second, as they maintained control of the game until the midway point of the quarter. 

Trailing Bethel 22-19, a 7-0 Cougar run turned a three-point deficit into a four-point lead lead late in the first half, as IU Kokomo led 28-26 through 20 minutes.

A pair of free throws from Catey followed by a Kiser bucket in the paint extended the Cougar lead to five four minutes into the third, before the Pilots outscored IUK 14-8 down the stretch to take a 42-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

Bethel quickly extended the lead to five as they led by as many as seven with 3:57 remaining in the game, but the Cougars had one more furious rally in them. Lexi DiOrio drilled a triple before Kiser scored once again down low, trimming the deficit to two with 2:06 to play.

After a pair of Pilots free throws re-built the lead to four, an old-fashioned three-point play by Kiser pulled the Cougs back within a point with 36 seconds remaining. Bethel went 1-2 at the line after an IUK foul, but the Pilots would get a stop and rebound on IUK's final possession to close out a 57-55 win.

Four Cougars saw 30+ minutes of action in Saturday's matchup at Bethel, with Anna Kiser and Mia Catey leading the way offensively and on the glass.

Kiser finished with a game-high and season-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds, as Catey recorded her first double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 boards.

Freshman Lexi DiOrio, a St. Charles, Illinois product, continued her strong play as of late, adding 12 points in 18 minutes of action off the bench. 

The Cougars will next play a pair of games at Taylor University next Tuesday and Wednesday, first battling the host Trojans before taking on St. Ambrose (Iowa) Wednesday.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.