MOUNT VERNON – The youthful Rams fell short against a talented UW-Platteville squad, 53-32, during Sunday's final day of the Cornell Women's Basketball Classic inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
Cornell's promising first-year players accounted for all but four of the team's points, led by a near double-double of 13 points and nine rebounds from reigning Midwest Conference Performer of the Week Erin Knowles.  
 
Freshman guard Reagan Wells dropped in a season-high 12 points. Wells and Knowles both hit two 3-pointers apiece.
 
The Rams (1-2) hung tough with UW-Platteville (2-1) through a 13-13 opening quarter and stayed within 29-20 at intermission. UW-Platteville opened the third quarter on a 9-1 run and played with a double-digit lead the rest of the game.
 
Rylee VanDresar finished with six rebounds for the Rams, who were held to 26.1-percent shooting from the field. The Pioneers scored 23 points off Cornell turnovers.
 
In Sunday's opening game, Coe defeated Saint Mary's, 76-69, behind a 36-point effort from Caydee Kirkham.
 
Coming up – The Rams visit rival Coe Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. Bremner Cup matchup in Cedar Rapids.