POINT LOOKOUT, MO – After two-and-a-half weeks off, the Houghton Highlanders returned to the hardwood as the No. 4 seed in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship tournament.
 
The Highlanders showed some rust as they dropped their opening contest to No. 5 Cedarville, 80-45.
 
The Lady Jackets jumped out to an early, 19-9, advantage by the end of the first quarter, but it was the second quarter that upended the game.
 
Over the second 20 minutes, the Highlanders committed 11 turnovers and converted only 1-of-11 field goal attempts, as Cedarville outpaced them, 32-5, over that span.
 
The Highlanders regained their footing in the second half, outscoring the Lady Jackets, 17-9 in the third quarter, and remained competitive in the fourth, but they could not overcome the damage done in the first half.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: #4 Houghton – 45 | #5 Cedarville – 80
Records: #4 Houghton: 22-7 | #5 Cedarville: 13-16
Venue: Keeler Gym, College of the Ozarks | Attendance: N/A

NOTABLE STATS
>> Tabitha DeVries notched her 1,000th career point on a free throw three minutes into the game.  She finished with a team-best 13 points and seven rebounds, giving her 1,012 career points and 509 career rebounds.
 
>> Crysta LaCrosse logged nine points, giving her 1,209 career points, only 19 behind Tricia Atkinson (1988-92) on the Highlanders' career scoring list.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the court on Thursday at 2:45 p.m., when they will take on the No. 8 Paine College Lions.