FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Wednesday evening the University of Saint Francis Lady Cougars (16-8; 10-5 Crossroads) traveled to Mishawaka, Indiana for their final road game of the regular season when they faced the Bethel University Pilots (10-17; 5-10 Crossroads) and behind a 30-point third quarter won 87-71 for their fifth straight win.

A seesaw battle began as the game got started as the first quarter saw both teams exchange blows. Oddly enough, only eight points total were scored through the game's first four minutes as the Lady Cougars led 6-2.

Then both offenses got started. The Lady Cougars built a 10-2 lead, but the Pilots clawed back to tie them at 10 and eventually take a 15-14 lead.

Suddenly, the Lady Cougars found themselves trailing 21-14, but spent the final minute scoring seven unanswered points to catch back up and tie the score at 21 at the end of the frame.

Heading into the second quarter, both teams picked up where they left off exchanging leads through the first five minutes. Then with the Lady Cougars leading 33-29, a similar script followed from the first quarter as the Pilots scored eight unanswered points to take a 37-33 lead and Saint Francis was outscored 20-13 in the frame to trail 41-34 at halftime.

Then come the third quarter, the Lady Cougars turned the tide and popped on offense.

Although they would see the deficit grow to nine points, sophomore guard Reganne Pate sparked Saint Francis with a three-pointer, and an offensive outburst began in the third.

Down 45-37, the Lady Cougars went on a run to score 15 unanswered points to tie and take their first lead of the half, but the Pilots would not go quietly. They fought back to tie Saint Francis at 50 but sparked by a couple more three-pointers by Reganne Pate the Lady Cougars scored 30 points in the third quarter to take a 64-57 lead going into the fourth.

Throughout the fourth quarter the Lady Cougars maintained a steady lead over the Pilots leading by 12 with just under four minutes to play.

Down to the final minute, Saint Francis had a 14-point lead and cruised to their fifth straight victory.

Throughout the game, the Lady Cougars shot 45 percent from the floor, 35 percent from beyond the three-point line, and 78 percent from the free throw line. Reganne Pate led the team in scoring with 24 points while junior forward Meleah Kunkel enjoyed herself a double-double with 21 points scored and 15 rebounds (12 being defensive).

The Lady Cougars resume play on Saturday afternoon when they return home to Hutzell Athletic Center for the regular season finale and to celebrate Senior Day when they take on the Taylor University Trojans (14-11; 8-5 Crossroads) beginning at 1:00 pm.