OMAHA, Neb. – The scoreboard didn't register a win when the final horn sounded, but College of Saint Mary coach Natalie Miller analyzed the game in other ways.

"That's the best basketball I've seen us play in my two years,'' she said. "Even better than the games we've won.

"It would be easy to just fold, but I think our ladies have done a phenomenal job of continuing to grind and improve. They're showing a lot of pride.''

CSM chased Doane University to the wire on Wednesday night before dropping a hard-fought 74-68 Great Plains Athletic Conference basketball decision on Senior Night at the Lied Fitness Center.

Led by sophomore Ella Klusman's scorching 6-of-9 performance behind the arc, the Flames made a season-high 11 3-pointers and shot a season-high 42.3% (11 of 26) from 3-point range.

That helped CSM (3-19 overall, 2-14 GPAC) stay in contention on a night when its three players who are ending their careers at season's end – Haley Debuse, Madelyn Gaughen and Meghan Keil – were honored in a pregame ceremony.

Gaughen made two free throws with 36 seconds remaining to pull the hosts within 72-68. After Doane missed a pair of free throws, CSM turned it over with 21 ticks remaining.

The Tigers (10-10, 8-8) then split a pair of free throws to push the lead to five before the Flames missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

CSM did an excellent job double-teaming standout post Megan Chambers, but getting back out to guard 3-point shooters. Doane made 7 of 23 (30.4%) from 3-point range.

"Defensively, I was very impressed with how we scrambled out to shooters,'' Miller said. "Our rotations were great. The girls knew who they were flying around to, and they did a great job of executing. They did a great job playing team basketball defense.''

Klusman led CSM with a career-high 18 points, four more than her previous best. Madelyn Gaughen added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Jai'La Porter contributed 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Debuse had 11 points, six rebounds and five blocks, and Meghan Keil made 3 of 5 3-pointers for nine points to go with four boards.

"Ella had a crazy stat line,'' Miller said. "Having (Klusman and Keil) shoot well definitely helped.''

The Flames notched 17 assists, one short of their season best, by whipping the ball around crisply on offense.

"I feel like our shot selection was so much better,'' Miller said. "That was our focus going into this game, to play really well together, and I felt like we did that.''

CSM returns to action Saturday with a 2 p.m. GPAC game at Briar Cliff University.