BELLEVUE, Neb. – College of Saint Mary dropped its basketball season opener on Saturday afternoon, falling 77-47 to Bellevue University in nonconference play at the BU Fieldhouse.

"We didn't shoot the ball well at all,'' CSM Coach Natalie Miller said. "We got good looks, but our percentages were terrible and ultimately lost us the game.''

Jai'La Porter's free throw kept the Flames in contention at the 1:36 mark of the first quarter, trailing 21-15. However, over just short of the next eight minutes of play, the Bruins outscored CSM 16-3 to expand the lead to 37-18 late in the second quarter. CSM got no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

Miller said the team's inability to hit open shots led to its demise. CSM made 17 of 62 (27.4%) on all field goals, including 4 of 23 (17.4%) from 3-point range.

The head coach said it wasn't because her players were forcing bad shots.

"We had great shot selection and played well together, but we just didn't hit shots,'' she said.

Rebounding also became an issue as the game wore on. Bellevue outrebounded the Flames, 56-32.

Miller said the Flames received "solid contributions'' from Porter, a junior college transfer, and senior Madelyn Gaughen.

Porter led all scorers with 17 points, hitting 2 of 5 from 3-point range. She also had six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Gaughen added 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.

The Flames return to action Monday at York University for a 5 p.m. tipoff, then are home Thursday and Friday for their four-team MH Hospitality CSM Classic.