WESLEYAN, Conn. – Franklin & Marshall dropped a 69-58 contest against Wesleyan (Conn.) on Saturday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action. The Diplomats fell to 3-8, while the Cardinals improved to 8-3.

F&M opened the contest on a 16-9 run that included 10 points from Kristina McCarthy, however Wesleyan countered with a 13-6 run to tie the game at 22 with 9:33 remaining in the first half.

Over the next seven minutes, the Cardinals continued to extend the lead, including a 14-7 spurt that put Wesleyan ahead 36-29 with 2:49 left in the first half. The Diplomats responded with a 7-2 run to close out the first half as F&M trailed 38-36 at halftime.

McCarthy led F&M in the first half with 12 points and five rebounds, while Emma Lisle and Hannah Rose Nussbaum each added eight points.

In the beginning minutes of the second half, the Diplomats kept the game close as the Cardinals held a 46-42 advantage with 15:21 left in the game. But, a 13-6 Wesleyan run put the Cardinals ahead 57-48 with 7:10 to go in the contest.

F&M brought the deficit to eight at 66-58 off a Sam Plunkett 3-pointer with 1:37 to go, but Wesleyan's Jenna Klaes made three free throws in the final minute to put the game out of reach.

McCarthy finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Diplomats to notch her fifth double-double of the season. Lisle and Nussbaum also reached double figure scoring in the contest, tallying 13 and 10 respectively.

Four Cardinal players scored in double figures, led by Klaes with 18. Jesse Cherenza followed with 15, while Kaylie Williams scored 12 off the bench and Cherkira Lashley added 10.

F&M shot 39 percent from the floor, while Wesleyan shot 43.3 percent. The Diplomats outrebounded the Cardinals 44-27. F&M shot 73.3 percent from the charity stripe, while Wesleyan shot 78.6 percent.

The Diplomats returns to the court Wednesday when F&M welcomes Swarthmore to the Mayser Center. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.