YORK, Neb. – The York University women's basketball team lost a hard-fought 84-80 contest to KCAC-leading Kansas Wesleyan.

The Panthers are now 7-12 overall, including 5-11 in KCAC action.

Head coach Corinna Minjarez's team was led by Destiny Shepherd's 30-point effort. Britney Schroer added 14 points while Pasiko Hvichiani totaled 11 markers. Ashley Rubio contributed eight points and five boards while Monique Contreras added eight points. Alliyana Page had six markers and Alyssa Civitak had two points.

Trailing 46-29 at the break and 55-35 early in the third frame, Minjarez's squad roared back. Page buried a three-ball off a pass from Rubio at the 4:32 mark. Hvichiani converted a lay-up with 4:09 to play in the frame. Down 61-42, Contreras converted a lay-up. After she hit a free throw at the 2:15 mark, Hvichiani made a lay-up with 76 ticks on the clock in the third frame. A Shepherd three-point bucket sliced the deficit to 13 at the end of the third quarter.

York started the final 10 minutes out strong as Shepherd made an old-fashioned three-point play. A charity toss by Shepherd with 9:18 to go pulled the team within nine, 63-54. Down by 10, 72-62, Page canned a lay-up as did Shepherd, slicing the deficit to six with 4:41 to play.

A pair of free throws by Shepherd sliced the deficit to five, 77-72. With 12 ticks on the clock, Shepherd drilled a shot from distance, closing the gap to just four, 81-77. However, the home team was forced to foul and the visitors managed to hit a pair of free throws.

Schroer nailed a three-point bucket with two ticks remaining, but the squad was unable to pull out the win.

For the game, York hit 28-of-64 from the floor, including 10-of-16 from downtown. The squad buried 14-of-17 from the charity stripe and snagged 33 boards. The Panthers recorded 30 points in the paint.

The Panthers return to action Saturday when they play at Evangel beginning at 12 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at YorkPanthers.com.