Nashville, Tenn. -- The University of Lynchburg women's basketball team took on the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats in the team's first game of the Music City Classic and lost, 67-56, on Thursday night.

The Hornets (4-5) jumped ahead early, 6-0, following 3-pointers from backcourt pair Audra Petty, a freshman, and junior Brooke Cason. Lynchburg held onto the advantage until F&M sparked a run of seven straight points at the 7:45-mark in the second quarter that gave the Diplomats a 17-13 edge. From then on, the score was knotted six times. 

With 4:24 to go in the third quarter and the score tied at 33 apiece, Lizzie Neville tallied seven points and Kayla McCrea hit two 3-pointers to allow the Diplomats to claim a double-figure lead, 46-33, with 1:22 left in the third period. The Hornets came within six points in the final 10 minutes, but were unable to successfully come back and ultimately fell.

Junior forward Bree Spainhour led Lynchburg offensively with 15 points while adding six rebounds, one block and one assist to her stat line. Petty added 14 points for the Hornets, hitting four-of-seven from beyond the arc. She added six boards and one rebound to her performance.

Sophomore guard Kate Littlejohn had 11 points to round out Lynchburg players with double-digit points. She also grabbed a team-best nine rebounds and dished out two assists in the affair. Franklin & Marshall were led by Neville, who notched a double-double with a game-high 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Lynchburg women's basketball squad returns to action tomorrow for its final matchup of the Music City Classic. Lynchburg will take on Webster on Friday, December 20 at 6 p.m.

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