MOBILE, Ala. – A pair of career-highs were not enough on Saturday, as the Montevallo women's basketball team fell to Spring Hill 78-69 inside of the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.

Jordan Gillies and Isabel Grimes recorded career-highs, both scoring 21 points. Elisa Saffold added a season-high 12 points.

The Falcons opened the game with back-to-back buckets from Grimes and Saffold less than a minute in. After holding a 7-5 lead at the 7:36 mark, the Falcons went on an 8-0 run capped by a Julia Susla lay-in to take a 15-5 advantage with 4:36 left on the clock. The Badgers trimmed the Falcon lead to 17-11 at the 2:43 mark, but back-to-back layups from Carlyn Burdette and Gillies gave Montevallo a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Spring Hill scored the first five points of the second quarter to cut the UM lead in half. Gillies responded with a lay-in, as UM led 23-16 at the 8:50 mark. The Badgers continued to cut into the Falcon lead, as Montevallo led by one possession, 25-22, with 4:48 left on the clock. Montevallo responded once again with back-to-back three pointers from Gillies and Grimes, putting UM ahead 31-22 at the 3:11 mark. Gillies concluded the quarter with an and-one, bringing her second quarter point total to ten, as UM took a 34-27 advantage at the break.

Spring Hill opened the second half strong, scoring the first seven points to tie the game at 34 at the 8:23 mark. Grimes and Saffold responded with back-to-back baskets, putting Montevallo back in front, 38-34, at the 7:17 mark. The Badgers tied the game once again, but Grimes responded this time with an and-one, giving UM a 41-38 with 6:15 left on the clock. Gillies and Saffold connected on three-pointers in the next few minutes, as the Falcons held a narrow 47-45 at the 2:54 mark. The Badgers found late success in the third quarter, outscoring the Falcons 9-4 to go up 54-51 with 30 seconds left. Savannah Cook cashed in on a lay-in the final seconds, as Spring Hill took a one-point lead, 54-53, into the final quarter.

The Badgers continued to push, opening the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run to go up, 63-55, at the 7:33 mark, forcing a UM timeout. Grimes cashed in on a pair of free throws out of the timeout, but the Badgers would extend its advantage to double digits, taking a 68-57 lead with 4:41 left on the clock. The Falcons trimmed the Badger lead to six, as a Grimes lay-in and a Gillies three-pointer, cut the deficit to 68-62 at the 3:56 mark. After both teams traded baskets, a crucial SHC three-pointer would give the Badgers a nine-point lead, 73-64, with 1:39 left on the clock. The Badgers hit five free throws down the stretch to secure the win, as the Falcons fell on the road, 78-69.

GAME INFORMATION:
Score: Montevallo 69 | Spring Hill 78
Records: Montevallo 1-3 | Spring Hill 1-3
Location: Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center | Mobile, AL

GAME NOTES:

• SHC shot 47.3 percent from the floor, compared to UM's 40 percent.
• Jordan Gillies and Isabel Grimes recorded career-highs of 21 points.
• The Badgers edged the Falcons in rebounds 37-36.
• The Falcons had a 32-22 advantage in paint points.

UP NEXT: Montevallo hosts UT Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 26.