YORK, Neb. – The York University women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 83-79 contest to Evangel Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers are now 2-8 overall, including 0-7 in KCAC action. The Valor stand at 5-6 on the year and 4-3 in league action.

Trailing 12-2, Olivia Shannon took a pass from Destiny Shepherd and buried a three-point bucket. Shannon drained another shot from distance, this time off a pass from Clara Romero, at the 5:40 mark. York continued cutting into the deficit. Shannon drilled her third shot from deep and Romero netted a jumper – both off passes from Pasiko Hvichiani – pulling the team within three, 22-19, with 1:55 to go in the first quarter.

Down 38-26, Shepherd and Alyssa Civitak canned lay-ups. Civitak's three-point shot cut the margin to seven, 43-36. However, Evangel held a 48-38 lead at the break.

The Panthers cut the deficit to seven when Hvichiani converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the 8:55 mark. A 6-0 spurt pulled York within five, 54-49, with 4:18 to go in the third frame. Then, Shepherd netted three straight points before Hvichiani canned two charity tosses to make it a one-point game. The Valor led 60-55 heading into the final frame.

Down 69-61, Hvichiani converted a lay-up before Shannon canned a shot from distance at the 5:55 mark. Trailing 77-70, Shepherd scored an old-fashioned three-point play with 34 seconds to go. However, the visitors managed to convert their free throws down the stretch to hold off York.

Head coach Corinna Minjarez's team was led by Hvichiani and Shepherd as each had 20 points. Shannon and Britney Schroer contributed 12 and 10 points respectively. Civitak chipped in eight markers in the loss.

Hvichiani totaled eight boards and six assists while Shepherd dished out five assists and Romero had five.

For the game, York hit 31-of-62 from the floor, including nine-of-17 from the three-point stripe. The squad snagged 34 boards and dished out 19 assists.

The Panthers play an exhibition contest against University of Nebraska-Kearney on Monday before returning to regular season action on Saturday, Jan. 4, when they play at Southwestern at 1 p.m. Live stats and video at Yorkpanthers.com.