PITTSBURGH, Pa. – February 22, 2021 – After scoring a season-high 84 points 48 hours prior, the Chatham women's basketball team couldn't keep carry that performance over into Monday's defeat to Franciscan, falling 49-45 to the PAC newcomer.
 
Chatham appeared to be on its way to a decent start with a three-point lead halfway through the first period. However, the Barons finished the quarter on a 14-2 run and nearly doubled up on Chatham in the first 19-10. The Cougars' 36% shooting from the field would be the best quarter it had all night.
 
In the second quarter, the Cougars began to claw back and sliced the deficit to three by half. What turned out to be the achilles heel for Chatham was the 3-point shooting. In the first half, the Cougars shot just under 19% from deep (3-16).
 
Things would not get better for Chatham in the second half. After a third quarter sinking a couple of three's, the fourth quarter proved to be the downfall. With the game in reach, Chatham shot 13% from the field in the fourth, including a 1-12 line from three (.083 shooting).
 
Despite the lackluster shooting, Chatham outrebounded Franciscan 48-39 and dominated the offensive glass 24-12. The game was littered with turnovers, with the Barons turning it over 24 times and the Cougars only slightly better at 21. Chatham stole 11 passes as well.
 
Two Cougars recorded double-digit rebounds. Graduate Maddy Grennes had a second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Brittani Smith ripped down a career-high 13 boards and also stole five Baron passes. Junior Kaitlyn Fertig tied with Grennes for a team-and-game best 11 points.
 
Chatham continues its busy week where it will get set to play its third of four games in a span of seven days, this one at Waynesburg on Thursday at 7 PM.