CONWAY, Ark. – Centre women's basketball dropped its third consecutive game after falling 72-65 against a stubborn Hendrix squad inside Grove Gymnasium Friday in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) action.

The Colonels (12-4, 3-3 SAA) stayed within striking distance of the Warriors (12-5, 4-2) at all times, but could never swing the game back in their favor after a handful of early lead changes.

Hendrix thrived at the charity stripe, shooting 42 free throws to Centre's 14, hitting 33 for a plus-22 advantage at the line while falling three shy of the program record.

The opening quarter featured four lead changes as neither side could create much separation on the scoreboard. Hendrix led by a narrow 13-12 margin after 10 minutes.

Hendrix and Centre swapped runs in the second period: a 9-0 spurt from the Warriors followed by the Colonels' own 8-0 stretch.

When the halftime horn sounded, Hendrix led 29-24. Sixteen of Centre's 24 first-half points came from its bench.

The Warriors never relinquished their lead in the second half, despite the Colonels pulling within one point on multiple occasions.

Hendrix made its living at the free throw line, going 22 of 28 over the third and fourth quarters to help fend off any Centre comeback attempt.

The Warriors' Vinessa Daniel scored 14 of her game-high 23 in the final period to lead the home side.

Sophomore Kat Wilson (Suwanee, Ga.) was the only Colonel in double figures Friday evening, scoring 10 as six others scored at least six points.

Junior Abigail Stewart (LaGrange, Ky.) led Centre with six rebounds and two blocks, and freshman Abigail Wehby (Brentwood, Tenn.) paced the team with three assists.

The two teams shot near-identical marks from the field (44%) and from 3-point range (31%), but the Warriors – who had two 20-point scorers in Daniel and Leah Boehl – benefitted greatly from their aforementioned ability to get to the free throw line.

Centre next travels to meet Rhodes Sunday at 2 p.m. ET in Memphis, Tenn.