The Alma College Women's Basketball team made their home debut on Saturday, welcoming NAIA Concordia University to the Art Smith Arena. In a highly-competitive game that saw six lead changes, the visiting Cardinals would claim the 75-66 victory in Alma.

"We handled the pressure in the first half well, said Alma Head Coach Kris Johnson. "In the second half, Concordia was the more aggressive team and we were unable to handle it."

With the loss, the Scots drop to 2-2 on the year, while the Cardinals get their first win of the season to improve to 1-7.

The visitors came out of the gate firing, sinking three triples and a jumper to take the early 11-3 lead at 17:47.

Alma would then string together a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to just one at 11-10, with just over 15 minutes to play in the half.

A three by Sr. G Mallory Pruett (Ishpeming/Ishpeming) at 10:10 would give the Scots their first lead of the game 21-19.

Concordia would be unable to cut down the lead in the final 10 minutes, and the Scots went to the locker rooms up 37-33.

The Cardinals would regain the lead at 16:09, draining a jumper to take the 41-40 advantage.

The visitors would stretch the lead to six, before the Scots would answer back to tie the score at 48-48 with just over 11 minutes left in regulation.

Two free throws by So. G Kaitlyn Kendall (Farmington Hills/North Farmington) at 7:19 would give Alma its final lead of the game at 57-56.

Concordia would seal the game with late free throws to leave Alma with the 75-66 victory.

For the game, Alma shot 26-of-76 (34.2%) from the floor and 4-of-14 (21.4%) from beyond the arc.

Pruett led the Scots with 14 points (5-of-13), while Sr. G Grace Wheeler (St. Ignace/LaSalle) chipped in with nine points and a team-high 13 rebounds.

Fr. G Emily Hinsman (St. Ignace/LaSalle) recorded a team-high four assists, and So. G Nicole Green (Portland/Portland) added six points and five boards off the bench.

Mara Mulroy was one of four Cardinals in double-figures, finished the game with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Alma returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 3, hitting the road to take on Saint Mary's College (IN) in the conference-opener at 7:30 p.m.