NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College women's basketball team outscored nationally-ranked Mount Union in the second half but the Titans lost their first game of the season against the visiting Purple Raiders, 68-53, Tuesday night. Mount Union, which finished last year 26-4, is ranked 14th in the USA TODAY ESPN Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Titans are now 0-1 and the Purple Raiders are 1-0.

Sophomore guard Courtney Zitt led the Titans with 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the floor. Junior forward Katie Hughes came off the bench and scored 11 points to go with a game-high eight rebounds.

Four Purple Raiders scored in double figures led by Rosa LaMattina with a game-high 15 points to go with three assists and four steals. Amanda Rose also bucketed 14 points while pulling down a game-high eight rebounds.

Westminster shot just 21.7 percent (5-23) from the floor in the first half as it trailed 38-20 at halftime. The Titans then shot 60 percent (12-20) from the floor in the second half while outscoring Mount Union 33-30.

Mount Union led by as many as 21 points in the second half (45-24) before the Titans cut the deficit to eight points (49-41) with nine minutes remaining, but the Purple Raiders reestablished a comfortable cushion.

Westminster will play at Allegheny Friday at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Allegheny Tip-Off Tournament.