COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A slow start proved too much to overcome for the Southwestern University women's basketball team in a 71-58 road loss to the Colorado College Tigers. 

Southwestern struggled to contain Colorado College point guard Anna Fanelli in the first quarter as the national leader in assists dissected the Pirate defense to assist on five of the Tigers' seven made field goals on the way to a 21-point first quarter. The Pirates got nine points combined from Reece Sandercock and Princess Roberts to stay within five at 21-16. 

The Pirates unraveled in the second quarter, scoring just seven points on 2-for-17 shooting (11.8 percent), while Fanelli posted another five-assist quarter to lead Colorado College to a 39-23 advantage at halftime. 

Taylor Carney gave Southwestern a spark in the third quarter, scoring seven points on 3-for-4 shooting and the Pirate defense held the Tigers to 28 percent shooting. However, Southwestern failed to capitalize, surrendering nine offensive rebounds in a 16-16 third quarter. 

Roberts led Southwestern to its best quarter in the fourth, scoring nine points on 3-for-7 shooting as the Pirates outscored Colorado College 19-16. 

Four Pirates scored in double figures, led by Roberts' 15 points on 5-for-17 shooting with eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Carney, Ellie Ward, and Sandercock scored 10 points each. 

Talia Cloud led three Colorado College players in double figures with 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from deep. She also contributed a game-high nine rebounds. Audrey Bayston added 12 points, and Zoe Tomlinson scored 11 points. Fanelli finished with 14 assists to just two turnovers. 

Southwestern drops to 9-10 with a 5-6 conference record. The Pirates will host the University of St. Thomas on Monday at 7:30 p.m.