Blue Mountain, Miss. — The Blue Mountain Christian Lady Toppers faced a strong challenge Monday evening, falling to the No. 1 team in the nation, the Bethel Wildcats, in a hard-fought contest at Tyler Gym.
The opening quarter set a competitive tone as the Toppers matched Bethel's physicality early, staying within striking distance through aggressive defensive play and steady offensive execution.
Bethel was able to build a narrow advantage by the end of the first period, but Blue Mountain continued to respond with composed play on both ends of the floor.
In the second quarter, the Wildcats capitalized on extended possessions to build momentum heading into halftime. 
Despite the margin, the Lady Toppers remained poised, generating quality looks and battling on the glass to stay engaged against the nation's top-ranked program.
Coming out of the break, Blue Mountain showed resilience, cutting into the deficit behind strong interior play and efficient scoring. 
Lena Taylor led the Toppers offensively with a team-high 18 points on an efficient shooting night. 
Maddie Kirk provided steady production in the backcourt, finishing with 12 points and four assists, while Rebecca Walter added 10 points.
McKenzie Williams anchored the paint with eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds, giving Blue Mountain consistent second-chance opportunities.
The fourth quarter saw continued fight from the Lady Toppers as they worked to generate stops and push the tempo. 
While Bethel was able to maintain control down the stretch, Blue Mountain's effort remained consistent, forcing contested shots and competing through the final horn.
The Lady Toppers will play UT-Southern in their next game on Saturday at home.
 
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