SPOKANE, Wash. – Four Tornados scored in double figures, led by Payton Berger's team-high 16 points, but it was not enough as the Concordia Texas women's basketball team fell short 68-65 to Whitworth on Saturday.

The Tornados started strong in the first quarter, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and jumped out to an early 8-3 lead. Concordia Texas also made it count at the free-throw line, going 6-of-6 from the charity stripe and led 19-9 after one.

In the second quarter, the Tornados continued to find their stroke from behind the arc as Havyn Perez opened the period, knocking down one of her three 3-pointers on the night. She finished the game with a career-high 11 points.

Concordia Texas held the Pirates to 35 percent shooting from the field in the first half and held a 38-28 lead at the halfway point.

In the second half, Whitworth battled back and closed the gap to one, outscoring the Tornados 29-20 in the third quarter.

In the final period, Perez and Berger opened with back-to-back layups to push CTX's lead up to five early on. Madi Maxwell, who finished with six points and four rebounds, followed with a two-point jumper to make it 64-60 with 8:24 to play.

Whitworth responded with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the half. Berger would cut the deficit in half after going 1-of-2 from the line with just over a minute to go.

The Pirates tacked on two more points at the free-throw line to make it 68-65 and the Tornados had one more opportunity to extend the game. Perez found Kaycie Dunkerley for the game-tying 3-pointer, but it was off the mark as CTX fell to WC to close out the Whit Classic.

Berger finished the game with 16 points and six boards, while Dunkerley added 12 points and six rebounds as well. Natalie Velardez, meanwhile, had a career-high 11 points along with six rebounds off the bench.

Next, the Tornados will stay on the road and open conference play on Tuesday, when they travel to Belton, Texas to face Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6 p.m.