PIPPA PASSES, Ky. - The Indiana University Kokomo women's basketball team returned to action Thursday at Alice Lloyd for the first of two road games in 72 hours. Despite being shorthanded, the Cougars put forth a strong effort, falling 75-66 after leading at the half.

Thru seven River States Conference games, the Cougars are now 7-11 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Hannah Hodgen got the Cougars on the board first with a fast-break layup courtesy of Anna Kiser, before a Mackenzie York layup gave IUK an 8-6 lead as the clock neared the five minute mark of the first quarter. 

Alice Lloyd rattled off six-straight points to lead 12-10, but continued offensive pressure from IUK and a Moriah Crawford layup at the buzzer allowed the Cougars to regain a 20-18 lead after one quarter.

The Eagles managed to even the game at 23 apiece and even took a one-point lead in the second, however IU Kokomo outscored Alice Lloyd 16-5 over the course of the next 5:03 to take a commanding double-digit lead late in the half. 

Trailing by 10 with 2:08 to play in the opening half, ALC cut the IU Kokomo lead in half to trail by just five heading into the halftime locker room.

After a high-scoring first-half that featured a large amount of play in transition, the pace slowed tremendously in a second half that proved to be much lower scoring.

The home squad got the better of IU Kokomo in the opening minutes of the third quarter, yet the two sides traded buckets for the final seven minutes of the frame to enter the fourth quarter deadlocked at 56.

With the game even at 58, Alice Lloyd scored 10 of the ensuing 11 points to lead by nine with 5:38 remaining. IU Kokomo pulled within six on two separate occasions, yet the shorthanded Cougars understandably ran out of steam down the stretch, falling 80-73 in Pippa Passes, Kentucky.

Sophomore guard Cameryn Rector enjoyed her best game offensively of the season, coming up one point shy of a career-high with 18 points on 4-8 shooting from beyond-the-arc. Mackenzie York and Hannah Hodgen each scored in double-figures as well with 12 and 11 points respectively.

Both Anna Kiser and Moriah Crawford hit the glass hard in Thursday's loss, as Kiser earned her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds and Crawford finished with a career-high 10 boards. Mia Catey chipped in seven points and six rebounds in 35 minutes of action.

The Cougars will now head east to battle WVU Tech Saturday before returning home for a stretch of three-consecutive home games. Tip-off in West Virginia is set for 3:00 PM Saturday inside the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

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.