ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Neumann University women's basketball dropped a close 61-58 decision against Westminster College (Mo.) at the St. Pete Classic on Saturday evening.

Senior JoHanna Metzger scored her 1,000^th career point at the 7:56 mark of the second quarter, becoming the 17^th Knight to reach that benchmark in the women's basketball program. Metzger finished the game with 20 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks.

AAliya Hayes added 14 points and eight rebounds. Neumann shot 43.3% from the floor.

The first quarter featured five tied scores. With the score knotted at 14, the Blue Jays scored the final three points of the quarter to take a 17-14 lead at the break.

Westminster scored the first basket of the second quarter for a 19-14 lead. Metzger, needing just nine points coming into the game, then hit her fifth jumper of the game to surpass the 1,000 point mark. The rest second quarter featured three more tied scores and the teams went into halftime 29-all.

The Knights opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take a 41-31 lead. The Blue Jays answered with an 11-2 run to cut the lead to one, 43-42. Neumann held a slim 47-46 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Westminster scored the first three points of the fourth quarter to take a 49-47 edge. Metzger hit a layup to tie the game once again. Down the stretch, the teams continued to battle back and forth and with 1:58 left in regulation, the Knights and Blue Jays had the 11^th tied score of the game, 57-57.

Neither team would make a basket until Westminster hit a jumper with 15 seconds left. With a chance to tie the score five second remaining, Hayes went 1-for-2 from the line for a 59-58 game. The Blue Jays hit two free throws with three seconds remaining to seal the back and forth win.

Neumann (3-6) will participate in the Jamie Lynn Roberts - Fairfield Inn Holiday Classic at Catholic University on December 29 and 30. The Knights will face host Catholic on the 29^th beginning at 3:00 PM.