MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball team fell to St. Catherine University, 84–76, in a nonconference matchup Friday night in Morris, Minn.
 
The Wildcats remain undefeated and move to 3–0, while UMM drops to 1–3.
 
Gianna Klarenbeek opened the game with a three-pointer, and Maddy Grove followed with a steal and layup to extend the early lead. Additional points from Grove and Claire Stark kept the advantage at five. Anna Myers added to the run with a three-pointer, and Grove capped it with another layup. Brook Ver Steeg connected from deep to push the lead to 11. UMM ended the first quarter ahead 20–11.
 
St. Catherine opened the second quarter with back-to-back three-pointers to cut into the lead. SCU continued to chip away and eventually took a 25–24 lead with just over five minutes left in the half. Myers put the Cougars back in front with another three, and Gabby Randt followed with a jumper to extend the margin to four. With the game tied at 30 late in the quarter, Stark completed a three-point play. Grove scored the final five points of the half on a three-pointer and a layup, sending UMM into the break up 38–34.
 
As the Wildcats closed in during the third quarter, Klarenbeek answered with another three. SCU then scored five straight to regain the lead. Shelby Mortenson found Grove in the paint for a three-point play that briefly put UMM back on top. The teams traded leads throughout the quarter, but a St. Catherine three-pointer with five seconds remaining gave the Wildcats a 61–58 edge heading into the fourth.
 
After SCU went up by five early in the final quarter, UMM responded with baskets from Stark and Myers. St. Catherine countered with a quick three-point run and maintained control. The Cougars were unable to close the gap as SCU built a 10-point lead in the final three minutes and held on for the 84–76 win.
 
Grove led the Cougars with 28 points, shooting 9-for-13 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range, and 8-for-9 at the free throw line. Myers came off the bench to score 16, the second-highest total on the team. Stark and Klarenbeek also reached double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Itzel Salazar paced the team with six assists, followed by Klarenbeek with five.
 
On the defensive end, Stark led the team with eight rebounds, while Klarenbeek added seven. The Cougars recorded 10 steals, including three from Klarenbeek. Stark tallied three of the team's six blocks.
 
The Cougars return to action Monday as they travel to Bemidji State University for a 6 p.m. tipoff.