OMAHA, Neb. – After a solid opening quarter, the post duo of Kylie Diaz and Erison Vonderschmidt proved too much for College of Saint Mary on Saturday.

Diaz finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Vonderschmidt added 22 points as Peru State College pulled away for an 84-64 nonconference victory in the final game of the MH Hospitality CSM Classic at the Lied Fitness Center.

"We had no answers for their post players,'' CSM Coach Natalie Miller said. "We played behind them and let them get deep seals the entire game.''

In the first game on Saturday, Doane University beat Clarke University, 71-58.

The Flames (1-3) trailed just 22-16 after the first quarter, getting five points from Haley Debuse and four from Jai'La Porter.

However, the Bobcats (2-2) raced to a 26-12 advantage in the second quarter, getting eight points each from Diaz, Vonderschmidt and MaKinley Tobey. That left the Flames down 48-28 at the intermission.

"The first quarter we were more aggressive offensively, getting downhill,'' Miller said. "The second quarter, they got more aggressive defensively. But I really feel like our energy just dropped off. We were very late to call switches. We were always a half-step behind.''

For the second straight game, CSM put together a commendable fourth quarter. The Flames outscored Peru State 22-15 even though it was too little, too late.

"I told the ladies, 'I'm very proud of how you fought in the fourth quarter. I want to be clear on that,''' Miller said.

Madelyn Gaughen led the Flames with 17 points and four assists. Debuse, Freda Moore and Porter added 11 points apiece, with Porter grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

The Flames return to action Tuesday in Oskaloosa, Iowa, with a 5:30 p.m. nonconference game at William Penn University.