WATERTOWN, Wis. -- Kyria Teachout and Paige Joiner had career nights on Tuesday night against Blackburn, but the Sabercats couldn't hold off a late Beaver charge, letting an 11-point lead slip away in a 59-53 loss.

Teachout went all out, posting a career-best 19 rebounds (good enough for fourth all-time in program history), and Joiner logged career-high points and rebounds, providing bright spots on an otherwise disappointing night at Maranatha.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 53-59 Blackburn
• Venue: MBU Gymnasium - Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 125
• Records: MBU (0-3), BC (1-3)

STORY 
Maranatha edged the Beavers in each of the first two quarters, stifling the visitors' shooting by holding them to just 2-12 from the floor. Each of Maranatha's starting five logged points in the first quarter, as the balanced squad took a one-point advantage in each act to go into the halftime break with a 25-23 lead. Joiner was fueling things with 7 points in the second quarter alone as the Sabercats found their rhythm.

The third quarter was the most dominant for MBU. Teachout had been everywhere in the first half, hauling in rebound after rebound, and she was keeping the ball in good hands, as the Sabercats increased their lead to 11 thanks to Lindsay Mikkelson and Joiner grabbing six points apiece.

Free throws eventually won the game for Blackburn, as the Sabercats were just off their game in the fourth quarter with their possession and shooting. Blackburn slowly chipped away at the lead and went 18-25 from the free-throw line over the final 10 minutes, pulling away from the Sabercats by just six points when it was all said and done.
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Maranatha Starters: 4-Steuerwald, 10-Joiner, 12- Cook, 13- Teachout (C), 21-Mikkelson (C)

STATS 

• MBU: shot 29.4 percent from the field
• BC: shot 22.7 percent from the field
• Teachout: career-high 19 rebounds (4th all-time in program history)
• Joiner: career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds
• Last time: Maranatha defeated Blackburn 73-69 in the 23'-24' season opener. 
• Series: Blackburn now leads the series against Maranatha 3-1

OPPONENTS

• Blackburn competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA Dlll)
• Blackburn finished the '23-24 season with an 3-22 record

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Ankeny, Iowa on Thursday to face Faith at 5 P.M. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.