The Centre College women's basketball team fell 72-54 to Capital University on day one of the Thomas More Classic Friday, Nov. 23 in Crestview Hills, Ky.

The Colonels led 9-7 three minutes into the game and 15-11 at the 14:05 mark as senior Chelsea Benham (Taswell, Ind.) and junior Paige Baechle (Gallatin, Tenn.) accounted for 12 of the 15 points.

After a couple Capital lay-ups tied the game, Benham hit a lay-up of her own to put Centre back in front 17-15 with 9:22 to play in the opening half.

Capital (3-1) tied the game just over three minutes later and then went in front 20-17 with a three-pointer.

A Baechle jumper with 1:12 left cut the lead to one (29-28), but the Crusaders answered with a three-pointer and then hit a lay-up at the end of the half to take a 34-28 lead into the intermission.

Capital slowly began to pull away in the second half pushing the lead to 11 at the 17:05 mark. With 12:31 on the clock, Benham hit a jumper to make it a 10-point game, but the Crusaders then used a 19-6 run to pull away for good before finishing with the 18-point victory.

Baechle posted her fourth straight game in double figures to open the season and her second consecutive double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Benham had 11 points and three rebounds, and senior Bridget Winstead added nine points and two rebounds.

Jamie Caton led all scorers with 19 points, eight assists and three rebounds, while Simonne Gage added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Colonels (1-3) will return Saturday, Nov. 24 to play Calvin College on day two of the Classic. Start time is set for 3 p.m. in Crestview Hills, Ky.