SEDALIA, Mo. - The Kirkwood women's basketball team was nipped by State Fair, 53-52, in the season opener Friday night at the State Fair Classic in Sedalia, Mo.

The Eagles led by five points with about two minutes remaining but could not hold on in a hard-fought game.

"It was a fight. It was a fist-fight, is what it was," Kirkwood coach Kim Muhl said. "Our kids stepped up pretty well."

Kirkwood is ranked No. 6 in the nation in the NJCAA Division II poll. State Fair is ranked No. 13 in NJCAA Division I.

Cyerra Hutchins led the Eagles with 17 points. Casey Miles added 13. Caitlin Sudduth scored nine points.

Kirkwood plays Moberly (Mo.) Saturday afternoon.

KIRKWOOD (52): Harris 0 0-0 0, Lemons 2 0-2 4, Miles 5 0-0 13, Downs 0 2-2 2, Wheatly 0 1-2 1, Oberman 1 0-0 3, Sudduth 3 3-5 9, Hutchins 7 2-4 17, Jennings 0 0-0 0, Jones 1 0-0 2, Wood 0 1-2 1. Totals 19 9-17 52.

3-point goals - Miles 3, Oberman 1, Hutchins 1.