MILWAUKEE – Junior Holly Denfeld had a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds and the MSOE women's basketball cut a 12-point deficit to one late, but could not overcome Wisconsin Lutheran in dropping its NACC opener 66-60 Tuesday evening at the Kern Center.

The Raiders (0-3, 0-1 NACC) fell behind the Warriors (3-1, 1-0 NACC) by 12 late in the first half, but outscored the defending conference champions in the third quarter and pulled within one with just over four minutes to play.

Denfeld was one of three players in double-figures for MSOE. Senior Megan Kroll scored 12 points and freshman Jamie Spanbauer added 11.

WLC was led by Jen Dowden's 18 points. Taylor Bahr scored 17 and Caitlin Knueppel chipped in 10.

The teams played even for much of the first quarter, but the visitors rattled off an 11-2 run into the second quarter to build a 21-12 advantage. The lead would peak at 31-19 with 1:32 remaining in the first half and Wisconsin Lutheran led 32-22 at the break.

The Raiders trailed by 12 as late as 3:00 remaining in the third quarter, but they rattled off five quick points and closed the period on a 7-3 run to pull within six entering the final quarter. They would pull within four several times early in the fourth quarter when a Denfeld layup made it 53-51 with 5:22 remaining.

After the Warriors hit a basket, Kroll drained a three-pointer to make it 55-54 with 4:09 remaining in the game. That would be as close as MSOE could get, as WLC scored five-straight points and it could get no closer than two points inside the final two-plus minutes.

The Raiders shot a season-best 41.8 percent from the field in the game, making 4-of-15 three-pointers. They also hit on 10-of-12 from the free throw line and outrebounded the Warriors 36-31. WLC shot 43.6 percent in the game, making just one more field goal in the game, but was 14-of-18 at the charity stripe.

MSOE returns to the court Saturday at Lake Forest.