The Culver-Stockton women's basketball team couldn't protect a fourth quarter lead and suffered a 79-75 Heart of America Athletic Conference loss to Clarke University Tuesday night at the Kehl Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Wildcats entered the final quarter with a 52-50 lead and extended that lead to 55-50 on a Misora Nambara 3-pointer on the opening possession of the final period.

However, the Pride went on a 10-1 run over the next three minutes to grab a 60-56 advantage and never gave the lead back, outscoring the Wildcats 29-23 in the final 10 minutes to seal the victory.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Heart while Clarke improves to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the league. The loss was also the first for the Wildcats this season when leading after three quarters, falling to 4-1 overall.

C-SC forced 17 Pride turnovers, turning those miscues into 13 points. The Wildcats recorded a season-low six turnovers in the game, but the Pride took advantage of those miscues, scoring 10 points.

Nambara paced the Wildcat offense attack with a career-high 21 points. Avery Oetting added 14 markers while Elly Bentley and Elizabeth Reed chipped in with 10 points each. C-SC shot 43.5 percent (27-62) from the field, including 35 percent (7-20) from the 3-point line.

Clarke controlled the glass, out-rebounding the visitors 40-25 in the game. Katie Webb grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Wildcats, while Oetting and Olivia Hopp totaled four caroms each. 

The Wildcats are scheduled to play this Saturday, Dec. 7, at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. Game time, which was originally set for 2 p.m., has been pushed back to 4 p.m. due to Grand View hosting a postseason football game at noon Saturday.