TIFFIN, Ohio –The Heidelberg University women's basketball team flipped the script but could not hang on to the lead in a 64-62 loss to the University of Mount Union on Monday.

Heidelberg (10-9, 3-9 OAC), in the midst of a six-game slide, had fallen behind early then rallied late in their last several contests. On Monday, it was the opposite.

Head coach Morgan Shriver called a quick timeout with her team trailing 6-2. The Student Princes responded with a 12-2 run and led by 11 late in the first half.

A Heidelberg turnover in the closing seconds led to a 3-pointer by Mount Union's Robyn Brown, which gave momentum to the Purple Raiders at halftime.

A pair of 3-pointers for Mount Union (10-9, 4-8 OAC) cut Heidelberg's lead to four at the onset of the second half. Heidelberg's Kathleen Phillips knocked down a 18-foot jumper and a 3-pointer, both on assists from Paige Ricketts, to momentarily thwart the rally.

Phillips finished with a game-high 24 points. Ricketts finished with five assists and three steals.

Shortly after Molly Schriber gave the Student Princes a 48-40 lead with 14:49 left, she got tangled with MTU's Colleen Kennehan and picked up her fourth foul. After the whistle, Kennehan and Schriber were each assessed a technical foul, which disqualified Schriber from the contest.

The rough play seemed to energize the visitors, who held Heidelberg scoreless for the next five minutes of the game.

Mount Union continued to dominate play and built a seven-point lead with five minutes remaining.

Key rebounds by freshman Carli Patrick allowed the Student Princes to inch back into the contest. Patrick finished with 16 rebounds, a career high.

Down three, Phillips drove the lane and was fouled as she attempted a layup. The ball rattled around the cylinder but did not fall in for HU. Phillips made the first free throw, but Heidelberg was called for a lane violation as she tried to intentionally miss the second.

Due in part to a pesky full court press by Mount, Heidelberg committed 18 turnovers.

"We practice against our own press defense every day." said Shriver, "For some reason we were not fundamentally sound today."

Mount Union only made eight of 18 free throws. The Student Princes, conversely, shot 82.6% from the line.

The loss puts Heidelberg in a four-way tie at the bottom of the OAC standings with Otterbein, Marietta and Muskingum. The Student Princes will face each of these teams once more this season.

Heidelberg will travel to University Heights to play John Carroll Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 pm.