OMAHA, Neb. – Not many around the Great Plains Athletic Conference likely expected College of Saint Mary to be within single digits of No. 9 Briar Cliff University entering the fourth quarter of their basketball game on Saturday.

Yet there the Flames were, within striking distance down 60-51 after three. With 8:10 remaining, they still trailed just 64-54.

However, Briar Cliff put together the decisive 13-0 run over the next three minutes, finally breaking free from the upset-minded Flames and winning 85-65 in the teams' GPAC opener at the Lied Fitness Center.

"It makes me very excited moving forward, because we have big things we can clean up,'' CSM Coach Natalie Miller said. "The fact that I know our girls are disappointed and that I'm left wanting more from this game is a very positive thing in where we're headed.''

BCU improved to 7-0 and 1-0, while CSM dropped to 1-6 and 0-1.

A year ago, the Flames trailed Briar Cliff at the half by 35 and 40 points, respectively, in their two matchups. This year's first meeting was nothing like that, as Madelyn Gaughen scored 12 points and CSM trailed just 39-32 at the intermission.

Meghan Keil buried all three of her 3-point attempts in the third quarter as the Flames stayed in contention, trailing 60-51 entering the final 10 minutes.

In the fourth, CSM wasn't able to continue its hot 3-point shooting. The Flames were 8 of 16 from deep entering the final period, but 0 of 7 in the fourth. The eight 3s were a season high.

"I felt like we kind of got sped up in moments, and that's what threw us out of the rhythm we were playing in, specifically at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth,'' Miller said.

Madelyn Gaughen led four CSM players in double figures with 22 points and five rebounds, playing all 40 minutes. Jai'La Porter turned in a strong performance as well with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

"I felt like this was finally a game where both of them were more aggressive,'' Miller said.

Keil finished 4 of 11 from 3 for 12 points, while Ella Klusman made 3 of 7 from 3-point range and ended with 12 points and three assists.

"Meghan and Ella just shooting the ball so well, they did a great job of that,'' Miller said.

Kathryn Gaughen added a team-high seven rebounds in 39 minutes of action.

CSM will try to keep the momentum going when it plays at Concordia University on Wednesday and at Waldorf University Saturday.

"For us to compete like this, I'm very, very excited for next week,'' Miller said.