AVE MARIA, Fla. -- The Michigan-Dearborn women's basketball team narrowly missed capturing their first win of the season, falling 55-53 to New College of Florida in a thrilling contest. The tightly contested matchup was decided in the final minutes, as New College outscored UM-Dearborn 9-5 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

The game started evenly, with both teams tied at 14 after the first quarter. UM-Dearborn edged ahead by halftime, leading 30-29. In the third quarter, they extended their lead to 48-46, but the team struggled offensively in the final frame, scoring only five points.

For New College, Gwen Tsoukalas led the way with 13 points, including a crucial free throw late in the game. Camila Zbynski contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Sierra Moore was a force on the boards with 11 rebounds to go along with her 7 points.

UM-Dearborn saw strong performances from their starters. The team was led offensively by Bailey Stimac who finished with 19 points. Turnovers and missed opportunities in the fourth quarter proved costly.

Despite the loss, UM-Dearborn showed grit and determination, coming tantalizingly close to claiming the victory.