The #8 Charger women's basketball team's rally fell short as they dropped their road contest to Doane 97-92 in Crete, Nebraska Saturday afternoon. Mallie McNair poured in a career-high 39 points in the effort.
 
A slow start in the first half, the Chargers found themselves down 45-31 heading into intermission. Briar Cliff committed 15 turnovers in the first half alone.
 
Trailing 69-51 with 9:13 remaining, the Tigers looked poised to run away with the contest. The Chargers fought back in the fourth, with Grace Flanagan knocking down a triple to cut the Tiger lead to eight with 3:26 left to play.
 
With 1:42 on the game clock, Kennedy Benne recorded a steal and dished it to McNair who tied the game 89-89 after her fastbreak layup. In the final minute of regulation, Doane's Rylie Rice knocked down seven free throws and the Chargers fell 97-92.
 
Konnor Sudmann chipped in 13 points on a perfect three-for-three from the field and grabbed six rebounds with five assists. Flanagan added 12 points in a reserve role, going 50% from three-point land. Payton Slaughter had a near double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Chargers went 44% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc in the contest. They won the rebound margin 43-39.
 
Briar Cliff falls to 11-3 (6-2 GPAC) and will look to end their two-game skid next Wednesday at 6 p.m. as they take on Northwestern in Orange City, Iowa. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.