Paul Peterson photo Kelsie Richards of Finlandia University glides to the basket in Friday's game versus Minnesota Morris. The Lions were 67-62 losers.

HANCOCK — Ice-cold shooting from outside proved costly for the Finlandia University women’s basketball team Friday night against Minnesota Morris. 

The Lions managed to shoot just 28 percent from the field and were even icier from 3-point range where they converted 11 of 54 in a 67-62 defeat.

“We shoot threes alright in practice,” FU skipper Terry Klemett said. “But they don’t count there.”

The loss dropped the Lions to 2-3 on the season.

After falling behind by 19 points late in the third quarter, the Blue and White managed to scramble back into the game behind the play of Kelsie Richards and reserve Taylor Pertile.

Triples by Richards (Houghton) and Pertile (Hancock) had the locals within reach in the final minute of action.

But the taller Cougars were able to hang on behind the play of 5-10 Kendra Raths and Mauren Thiesen.

“They (Cougars) gave us problems with their length,” Klemett said, adding that losing 5-11 sophomore Haley Makela to a sprained ankle earlier in the week didn’t help.”

“Losing Haley hurt us because we needed her to help out Julia Daavettila under the hoop.”

After holding a slim 18-15 lead after one quarter, Minnesota Morris spurted in the second frame as 6-foot Tori Holt proved tough to handle under the basket.

The Lions managed a 23-12 margin in the final quarter, but it proved to be too late to affect the outcome.

“That was the tough thing about losing this game,” Klemett noted. “If we make just three more baskets, we win. But that’s how basketball goes sometimes.

Richards led the Lions with 16 points and also took down seven rebounds. Brooke Turin (Ontonagon) was next with 12 markers, while Julia Daavettila managed 10 points and a game-high 15 boards.

Two freshmen, Pertile and Carli Daavettila collected eight points apiece.

Thiesen and Raths led the Cougars with 13 points each. Elli Stevens added 11 and 6-1 Abby Van Kempen had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Finlandia will host Crown College at 4 p.m. today.

MINNESOTA MORRIS — Kempen 10, Raths 13, Stevenson 1, Thiesen 13, Holt 9, Holland 3,Miller 4, Dague 4. FG: 25-58; FT: 14-19; Rebounds: 55 (Kempen 13); Fouls: 13; Fouled out; None; 3-point FG: Stevenson 1, Raths 1, Holland 1.

FINLANDIA — Turiun 12, Richards 16, Hakala 2, J. Daavettila 10; Hebert 6, C. Daavettila 8, Pertile 8. FG: 24-85; FT: 3-6; Rebounds: 42 (C. Daavettila 15); Fouls: 23; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG; Richards 3, J. Daavettila 2, C. Daavettila 2, Pertile 2, Turin 1, Hebert 1.

Halftime score: MM 36, FU 23.