OMAHA, Neb. – The College of Saint Mary basketball team had a strong game off the bench Saturday afternoon, but turnovers proved too costly in an 86-53 loss to Briar Cliff University.

The Flames got 30 points off the bench in the Great Plains Athletic Conference loss.

CSM had 28 turnovers in the game, compared to 14 for Briar Cliff. The Chargers shot 46 percent from the floor, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 86 percent from the free-throw line. The Flames shot 43 percent from the floor, 25 percent from long range and 37 percent from the charity stripe.

"We found a way to hang in there and hit a 3-pointer to make it a 9-point game to start the third quarter and then the wheels fell off," CSM Coach Kirk Walker said. "We gave up a 14-0 run and then another 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter.

"We just can't find any consistency scoring the ball or getting multiple stops in a row when we aren't scoring. Anytime you turn it over 28 times and give up 39 points off turnovers you won't be able to compete."

Kenzi Hoit (SR/Omaha, Neb.) had a team-high 14 points for the Flames. Teammate Clare Lewandowski (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) tossed in 13 points and Kaylin Garza (FR/Belle Fourche, S.D.) had a career-high nine points. Madelyn Turner (SR/Bennington, Neb.) and Garza both had a team-high five rebounds, while Garza added three blocks and Allison Schubert (JR/Council Bluffs, Iowa) tallied three steals.

"Kaylin Garza easily had her best game here," Walker said. "I felt like she played with a lot more urgency and pace today. Kenzi and Clare both did a good job on offense, but we have to find a way to keep people that are scoring on the floor and out of foul trouble."

The Flames are now 1-5 in the GPAC and 3-7 overall. Briar Cliff improves to 3-2, 6-3. CSM's next action is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Doane University.

"We had some good moments and tried to play at a faster pace than we have been and we're going to go through some growing pains with that," Walker said. "We just have to stay the course and we will put it all together at some point.

"I'm proud of our players and how they are staying strong mentally and continuing to show up every day to get better despite their frustrations."