DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.—The Sunshine State awaited the Hamline University women's basketball team on Friday morning, when they squared off against No. 18 DeSales at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Pipers were in the driver's seat for a majority of the first half against the nationally-ranked Bulldogs, who took the lead for good late in the second quarter and ran away with a 67-55 victory.

Hamline falls to 5-4, while DeSales improves to 9-2.

DeSales 67, Hamline 55

Defense carried Hamline in the opening frame, where they held DeSales to a 2-of-16 (.125) shooting mark. It helped the Pipers achieve an eight-point lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter, when Kate Trachsel's layup made the score 12-4. That proved to be Hamline's largest lead of the contest, as Megan Bealer's 11 points engineered a 21-10 Bulldog run that put them in the driver's seat for good at 25-22 with 2:15 remaining in the first half.

The Pipers managed to out score the Bulldogs 21-20 in the fourth quarter before they dropped a 67-55 decision.

Lydia Lecher and Sophie Stork each had 10 points for the Pipers, who had the upper hand in rebounding by a 52-42 margin. Faith Johnson came through with a career-high 14 boards, which included six offensive. 

Bealer scored a game-high 24 points on 4-of-8 from beyond the arch for DeSales, while Mikaela Reese had a double double with 18 points and 10 boards. Olivia Scotti also had a double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Pipers will face Salve Regina in Daytona Beach, Florida tomorrow, Saturday, December 30 at 2 p.m. (ET).