YORK, Neb. – The York University women's basketball team lost a hard-fought 60-58 contest to Bethany College Wednesday evening.

The Panthers are now 2-6 on the season, including 0-4 in KCAC action. The Swedes stand at 4-6 overall and 2-2 against league foes.

Alliyana Page hit a lay-up in the early going and made a free throw a moment later, knotting the game at 3-3. Pasiko Hvichiani's three-ball off a pass from Olivia Shannon gave York a 6-3 edge. Trailing 14-6, Britney Schroer connected on a free throw before Clara Romero buried a jumper, pulling the Panthers within five at 14-9. A three-ball from Monique Contreras allowed York to close the gap to just four, 16-12, heading into the second quarter.

Down 20-16, Schroer's jumper made it a two-point contest. Trailing 25-21, Romero found Page for a three-ball at the 6:35 mark. Minjarez's squad embarked on an 8-0 spurt over the final 3:27 for a 32-27 lead at halftime. During the run, Hvichiani made a lay-up. Schroer made two shots while Briana Bunkley hit an inside bucket.

Leading 34-33, Hvichiani found Page for a three-point bucket at the 6:58 mark. Schroer's jumper with 3:48 to go in the frame pushed York's advantage to 40-36. However, Bethany took a 43-40 lead going into the fourth stanza.

Schroer buried a jumper and Contreras hit a three-ball for a 45-43 score at the 8:20 mark. Tied at 45-45, Destiny Shepherd and Bunkley made shots for a four-point margin at the 7:15 lead. Moments later, Shepherd canned a shot from distance before Contreras hit a jumper for a nine-point edge.

A 9-2 run by the Swedes made it a 56-53 game with 1:33 left. A Schroer free throw pushed the advantage to four, 57-53. With 53 ticks to play, Hvichiani forced a turnover and gobbled up her fourth steal of the game. Leading by two, Bunkley hit the second of two free throws with 23 seconds remaining.

Bethany converted a lay-up and a foul shot for a 60-58 lead with six seconds to go. York had an opportunity but could not get a shot off in the waning seconds.

Head coach Corinna Minjarez's team was led by Schroer's near double-double effort of 16 points and nine rebounds. Contreras added 14 points while Page totaled nine points, two assists and a block. Hvichiani tallied six points, seven assists and four steals while Bunkley and Shepherd had five points apiece. Romero chipped in three points.

For the game, York hit 22-of-57, including eight-of-16 from downtown. The visitors hit 22-of-28 from the foul line while the Panthers got to the line 14 times and hit six. Minjarez's squad dished out 14 assists and scored 19 points off 26 turnovers.

The Panthers return to action Saturday when they host Tabor College at 4 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Yorkpanthers.com.