ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—Alverno College basketball fell to Ohio Wesleyan in the opening contest of the St. Pete Classic Tournament Wednesday afternoon.

Ohio Wesleyan started the first quarter with 11 unanswered points. A late three point field goal from Karli Selear helped the Inferno cut into the Ohio Wesleyan lead. The Battling Bishops controlled at 24-4 lead heading to the second quarter.

The Inferno offense started to click in the second quarter as a three point field goal from Mackenzie Mathies and later, a layup from Gabby Hood shrunk the Battling Bishops advantage to 31-10. Another three point field goal from Mathies to beat the buzzer saw the Inferno head into halftime trailing 45-20.

In the third quarter, the Battling Bishops opened with a 6-0 run. Another three point field goal this time from Kendra Patterson cut the Ohio Wesleyan effort to 58-31. Patterson hit from beyond the arc again at the 2:04 mark to shrink the Battling Bishops momentum. Patterson later beat the buzzer to send the Inferno into the final quarter of play trailing 65-42.

Ohio Wesleyan again started the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run until Karli Selear got the Inferno scoring going with a layup. At the 2:18 mark, the Inferno converted on a quick 5 point swing to cut the Battling Bishops lead to 78-56. The fast start from Ohio Wesleyan in the first quarter was too much for the Inferno to gain any momentum. The Battling Bishops took the contest 78-61.

Offensively, the Inferno were led by junior Mackenzie Mathies who finished with 17 points, four rebounds and two steals. Karli Selear collected 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Kendra Patterson came off the bench to add 14 points and five rebounds.

Alverno College will be back in action tomorrow as they wrap up the St. Pete Classic Tournament. The Inferno face Berry College Thursday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. EST.