The Spartans headed into conference play vs. DMACC in Boone on Wednesday, Dec. 5, with a three-game winning streak and hoped that momentum would carry them. The first quarter was back and forth ending 15-14 with DMACC leading.

The Spartans trailed for the majority of the second quarter, but some crucial shots, made by sophomore guard Kierra Brice, of Omaha, helped the Spartans make a run. Brice led all scorers with nine points at the half as the Spartans took a two-point lead heading into the half, 30-28.

Sophomore forward Tina Lair-Van Meter, of Coon Rapids, came out strong in the second half, scoring 17 of her career high 23 points during the second half. With 4:18 left in the fourth quarter, the Spartans were leading 68-67, but a run by the Bears would make it 76-72 with 1:10 left. The Spartans would cut the lead to two with 35.9 seconds left, but the Spartans would miss an opportunity and fall 81-76 in the end.

“We missed some opportunities down the stretch, that if they had fallen our way, we would have had a different result,” said Spartan Head Coach Bryan Austin.

Austin was happy Lair-Van Meter had such a great day on the court.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Tina and what she is doing," Austin stated. "We have challenged her and she has risen to the bar; we will definitely need that play to help us down the stretch.”

Next up for the Spartans is a home game vs the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans on the Spartans' home court on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m.