BELTON, Texas – The Concordia Texas women's basketball team stormed back from a 14-point second half deficit, taking the lead in the fourth quarter, but ultimately the comeback fell short, falling to No. 13 Mary Hardin-Baylor 66-61 to open conference play on Tuesday at the Mayborn Campus Center.

Kennedy Donovan poured in a career-high 14 points, including eight points in the first half, to lead the Tornados' offense, while Payton Berger nearly had her first double-double of the season, producing 11 points along with a team-high eight rebounds.

In the second half, the Cru extended their seven-point halftime lead to double digits after an 8-0 spurt made it 48-34 halfway through the third quarter.

The Tornados chipped away at the deficit though, scoring 13 of the next 16 points, capped off with back-to-back buckets by Donovan and Kaycie Dunkerley, and trailed 51-47 after three quarters.

In the final period, Madi Maxwell gave CTX its first lead of the game at 54-53, knocking down the short jumper in the paint. Mary Hardin-Baylor countered with an 8-0 run to retake the lead halfway through the frame.

The Tornados were not done though, as Berger scored five of the team's next seven points, including the game-tying 3-pointer to level it at 61-all. At the free-throw line, the Cru took the lead once again, holding a 64-61 advantage with under a minute to play.

Concordia Texas had one last shot to tie it up, but UMHB came up with the steal as the Tornados fell 66-61.

Dunkerley finished the night with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Chelsea Cogburn had a strong performance for CTX off the bench, recording six points and pulling down eight boards.

Up next, the Tornados will have a quick turnaround, returning to non-conference play on Thursday, to face Southwestern at 5:30 p.m. in Georgetown, Texas.