The Alma College Women's Basketball team hosted Elmhurst College (Ill.) in a rare midweek matinee on Monday at Art Smith Arena. Alma lost to the visiting Bluejays 70-50 in the non-league contest. The Scots now have an overall record of 2-6 and 2-2 in the MIAA, while the Bluejays leave town with a mark of 5-4 in 2012-13.

"We have to continue to work on making baskets," said Alma Head Coach Keisha Brown. "We got some good looks but didn't put them in. There is no way possible to win a game when you don't score for a majority of a half."

It was a defensive battle for much of the first half as both teams turned on the intensity and made it difficult for good looks on the offensive side of the ball. Elmhurst took a 4-3 advantage at 16:09 and never trailed again in the first frame. With the score 10-8, the Bluejays went on an 11-0 run to build the lead to 21-8 with 6:30 remaining.

Elmhurst led 30-19 with 3:09 left, but the Scots closed the half with a 10-4 burst to go into the break trailing by five at 34-29. So. G Grace Wheeler (St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle), seeing in her first action of the season after an injury, proved to be a sparkplug for the Scots as she scored 10 points in seven minutes of action. Alma shot 24% in the half (eight of 33), while Elmhurst was at 46% (10 of 22). The visitors connected on 13 of 14 free throws in the first half, while the Scots were good on 10 of 12 from the charity stripe.

The Bluejays led 35-31 a minute into the second half but the Scots went on an 8-0 run and took a 38-35 advantage on a three-pointer by So. G Mallory Pruett (Ishpeming, Mich./Ishpeming) with 17:20 left in the game. Alma maintained the lead and took a 43-39 advantage on a Pruett basket at the 14:39 mark.

However, the game took a turn for the worse for the Scots as Elmhurst went on a 21-0 run over the next 10 minutes and led 60-43 with 4:34 left in the game. Pruett stemmed the tide with two free throws it would not be enough.

Alma could only muster five more shots from the charity stripe the rest of the way and the Bluejays walked off the court with the 70-50 victory. The Scots went the final 14:39 of the game without an offensive field goal, making it very difficult to mount a comeback.

The Scots shot 23% overall (14 of 62) from the field, including four of 13 from beyond the arc, while Elmhurst finished at 40% (21 of 53) and four of 14 in three-pointers. The Bluejays outrebounded Alma by a margin of 49-39 in the game.

Pruett led the Scots with 15 points, while Wheeler finished with 11 points in the loss. Sr. F Danielle Hicks (Marshall, Mich./Marshall) paced Alma on the boards with 12 rebounds, while Pruett and Sr. G Stephanie Faller (Saginaw, Mich./Valley Lutheran) each had four rebounds. Hicks also had a team-high three assists, while Faller had two steals.

Alma next plays on Wednesday evening when they travel to Spring Arbor for a 7:00 p.m. contest.