WALESKA, Ga. -- A slow-starting first half for the Bluefield College women's basketball team put the squad in too large a hole to recover from, Monday evening, as Reinhardt University took the Appalachian Athletic Conference battle, 72-60.

Bluefield faced its largest deficit of the night with just under two minutes remaining in the first half, 37-14, before reeling off the final eight points of the half.

While BC outscored the hosts 38-35 over the final 20 minutes, it wouldn't be enough to erase the 15-point halftime hole.

Shelby Key and Whitney Smith led Bluefield with double-digit efforts, posting 13 and 11 points, respectively. Tempestt Lewis chipped in nine from a trio of threes, while Destiny Tolliver added eight and a team-high seven rebounds.

Brooke Thomas guided Reinhardt to the win with 16 points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point land. Carmen Lockhart added 14 off the bench and Kateca Favors chipped in 12 more to go along with a game high eight rebounds.

The Eagle took an 18-7 lead through 8:34 of play and build the cushion to the previously mentioned game high late in the period.

While BC closed the half strong, the closest they could come in the second half was 11, 61-50 with 5:01 remaining after one of Smith's three threes.

BC's threat to pull within single digits provoked an 8-1 run to push the lead back up to 18 with 2:49 to play.

Lewis, Smith and Jade McDaniel tossed in threes in the waning minutes to lead to the 72-60 final.

BC finished the night shooting 37.5% (21-for-56) from the field, while Reinhardt connected at a 54% (27-for-50) rate, including 6-for-10 from beyond-the-arc.

Bluefield continues AAC play on Wednesday, hosting Tennessee Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m.