URBANA, Ohio (Dec. 1) - The Cardinals were unable to convert on a pair of potential go-ahead baskets in the final minute in their 80-78 loss at Urbana Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) game.

The loss drops the Wheeling Jesuit University women's basketball team to 1-3 in the MEC, 3-5 overall. Meanwhile, the Blue Knights improve to 1-5 overall, 1-3 in league play.

Junior guard Khira Burton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) led the team with 22 points, while senior Chenelle Moore (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) added 20 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Wheeling Jesuit took a 7-6 lead on a layup by junior Lauren Lipscomb (Columbus, Ohio/Pickerington North) with 7:46 left in the first quarter. After Urbana opened up a 19-12 lead with an 13-5 spurt over the ensuing six minutes, the Cardinals managed to close the gap to 21-17 with a pair of baskets in the final minute of the period.

The Cardinals rallied to take the lead at 30-28 on a Burton layup with 5:55 to play in the second quarter. Both teams traded blows down the stretch of the first half, before WJU took a 39-38 lead into the locker rooms.

Wheeling Jesuit led for over five minutes into the second half, until the Blue Knights claimed a 52-50 edge with 4:03 left in the third quarter. The Cardinals responded with a 12-1 run over the next two minutes to take a 62-53 lead with 1:58 to play in the period and eventually took a 62-55 lead into the final quarter.

The Cards matched their largest lead of the game, 66-57, on a Lipscomb three pointer with 8:41 left in the game. Urbana mounted a comeback to take a 74-72 with 4:45 remaining on the clock, but Moore free-throws tied the game back up at 74 on the next possession.

The Blue Knights built up an 80-76 lead with 1:34 to play in the game, before a Cashwell layup sliced the lead to two with 1:11 left on the clock. The Cardinals had a pair of chances to take the lead on three pointers in the final minute, but both attempts rimmed out and allowed Urbana to hold on for the close win.

Urbana out-scored the Cardinals 22-14 in the fourth quarter. WJU and Urbana posted similar numbers for the game from the field. The Cardinals shot 31-of-67 (46 percent), compared to the Knights who finished 30-of-66 (46 percent).

Wheeling Jesuit will look to get back on track on Wednesday, December 5 when it hosts Fairmont State in a MEC game at 5:30 p.m.