The pressure got to the Helias Lady Crusaders.
In a tight game Monday night at Rackers Fieldhouse, turnovers proved to be the difference as the Battle Spartans edged Helias 54-52.
"It seemed like we couldn't get the ball past half-court without turning it over," Helias coach Sarah Eagan said.
Helias, which held a 22-20 lead at the half, turned the ball over 11 times in the third quarter as Battle scored 23 points to turn that deficit into a 43-40 lead.
The Spartans pressured the Lady Crusaders the full 90-feet in the period.
"We lost our composure, we lost our focus," Eagan said.
Battle led by as many as five points in the final quarter, that coming at 47-42 with 4:50 left.
Helias used a 6-0 run to take its final lead of the game at 48-47 with a little less than three minutes to play on a basket by Lauren Alexander. Battle then scored the next four points to take the lead for good.
Helias got to within one a couple of times in the final minute, the last on a pair of free throws by Morgan Wieberg with :16 left to make it 53-52. Elaine Miller of Battle made a free throw with :12 left to push the Spartans' lead back to two.
The Lady Crusaders missed a free throw with :01.8 left, then missed the second attempt on purpose in an attempt to get the rebound. But time ran out before Helias could hit a potential tying basket.
The teams were whistled for a combined 50 fouls in the game as Battle had more made free throws (19) than field goals (16).
"We sent them to the foul line way too much," Eagan said.
Helias' biggest lead of the game came early when the Lady Crusaders scored the first five points of the contest on its way to a 9-8 advantage after one quarter. The two teams swapped points throughout the second quarter as Helias took the two-point lead into intermission.
Erin Wyrick, a 5-9 sophomore, came off the bench to record a double-double for the Lady Crusaders. Wyrick finished with game-high totals of 24 points and 14 rebounds.
"She has the chance to be one heck of a player when she learns a few more things," Eagan said.
Cedreanna Lee led three Battle (1-4) players in double figures with 16 points. Maya Mouton added 14, while Jerrica Key chipped in with 11.
Helias (4-1) is back in action Friday at Rolla.