DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - For the second-straight game at the Daytona Beach Shootout, the No. 24-ranked Carroll Women came up just two-points short, as they fell 59-57 to (RV) William Carey at the Ocean Center.

A sluggish start in the first quarter led to a second consecutive 2-point loss for the Fighting Saints (7-6, 5-2) as the Crusaders kept their unbeaten record intact.

The Saints held a lead for much of the first quarter, but were stuck on seven points for an extended period, going just 3-12 from the floor. William Carey ended the frame on a 13-2 run over the final five minutes to jump out to a 17-9 lead.

Jillian Kanduch (Miles City, Mont. / FR) got things going for the Carroll offense in the second quarter, as her seven points, paired with four from Meagan Karstetter (Moses Lake, Wash. / SR) helped the Saints chip into the lead at the break, 28-23.

The Saints turned to their upperclassmen coming out of halftime, as Karstetter added six more points while Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-SR) kicked-in five of her own, but the Crusaders' 50 percent effort from the floor in the frame would keep Carroll at bay.

Kanduch and Karstetter combined for 12 more points in the fourth and the Carroll defense stiffened, however, missed opportunities down the stretch at the line and beyond the arc would see the Saints fall just short in another one-score loss.

Carroll was just 5-18 from three-point range in the game, and finished below 40 percent from the floor as a team for the second day in a row (39.3 percent).

Three Saints scored in double-figures, led by Kanduch's 19-points, six rebounds and four steals. Kartstetter finished with 15 points, her second-highest mark of the year, and Albrecht had 10 points and five rebounds.

The Saints will enjoy a quick holiday break, and return to action next week in preparation for a January 2 showdown with No. 4 Dakota State.