BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - The Mount Mercy women's basketball team trailed by 24 points early in the third quarter Saturday, but they never gave up and nearly pulled off a miracle.

The Mustangs climbed back within two points with one minute remaining before losing to Baker University, 77-72, in a Heart of America Conference game in Kansas.

Mount Mercy trailed, 64-40, in the third quarter and nearly made it all the way back. The Mustangs outscored Baker, 34-19, in the second half after trailing by 20 at intermission.

Sharice Kawakami led the Mustangs with 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists. She tossed in six 3-pointers. Brianna Thomas scored 15 points and Audrey Mulumba had 10.

Mount Mercy fell to 3-6 overall and 0-5 in the conference with its sixth loss in a row. Baker raised its records to 10-1 overall and 5-1 in the league.

Caitlin Modessett scored 21 points for Baker. The hosts made 16 3-pointers.

MOUNT MERCY (72): Moffett 3 1-2 8, Kawakami 8 6-7 28, Thomas 5 2-2 15, Sheck 0 0-0 0, Mulumba 4 2-4 10, Goodman 1 0-0 3, Hampton 1 0-0 2, LeGrand 0 0-0 0, Brown 3 0-0 6. Totals 25 11-15 72.

BAKER (77): Bannister 3 0-0 8, Bird 3 4-4 12, Smith 1 2-2 8, Modessett 6 5-5 21, Zweifel 6 2-2 19, Weathers 1 0-0 2, Roberts-Rosser 1 0-0 2, Adkins 2 0-0 5, Karolina-Alvarado 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 13-13 77.

Halftime - Baker 58, Mount Mercy 38. 3-point shots - Mount Mercy 11 (Kawakami 6, Thomas 3, Moffett 1, Goodman 1), Baker 16 (Zweifel 5, Modessett 4, Bannister 2, Bird 2, Smith 2, Adkins 1).