DETROIT (12/18/21) - Graduate student Sydney Searcy just missed a double-double scoring a career-high 21 points while grabbing a career-best nine rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range with five assists and five steals as Detroit Mercy rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit but came up short falling 70-60 to visiting North Dakota on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Searcy has now dished out 10 assists over the last two games. Junior Imani McNeal added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting while going 3-for-4 from the free throw line with three assists. Freshman Emma Trawally Porta chipped in with nine points going 6-for-8 from the charity stripe and connected on her first career 3-pointer while grabbing six boards.

For the game, Detroit Mercy (0-10) shot a season-high 7-for-15 from 3-point range while grabbing 12 steals and forcing 16 North Dakota (6-5) turnovers defensively.

After trailing by 17 points (40-23) at the half, Detroit Mercy opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run to pull within seven points at 44-37 with under five minutes remaining. The run continued as the Titans outscored North Dakota 26-11 overall to pull within two points at 51-49 to end the third quarter. For the frame, Detroit Mercy shot a blistering 10-for-19 (52.6%) from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range.  

Irene Murua opened the fourth quarter with a jumper tying the game at 51-51 followed by a 3-ball from McNeal which gave the Titans their first lead at 54-53 with 7:48 left. However, North Dakota responded with  an 8-0 run to take a 61-54 lead with 3:49 renaming. Searcy's triple pulled the Detroit Mercy within five points at 63-58 but that would be as close as the Titans would get as the Fighting Hawks outscored Titans 7-2 down the stretch (19-11 overall in the quarter) en route to their sixth win of the season.

Detroit Mercy will play their final non-conference game of the season at Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. ET.