Wilmington, N.C. -- Junior Heather Karner scored a game-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, including five 3-pointers, but the Youngstown State women's basketball team (1-3) dropped a 56-52 decision to UNC-Wilmington (1-3) on Friday evening at Trask Coliseum.

Trailing by as many as six points, 17-11, with 12:36 left in the first half, Velissa Vaughn and Karner hit back-to-back 3-pointers to knot the game up at 17-17 at the 9:42 mark.

Ashley Pendleton's jumper with 1:49 to go gave the Penguins a 24-21 lead but the Seahawks rattled off four straight points to take a 25-24 lead into the lockerroom.

The Penguins regained the advantage, 27-25, on a 3-pointer by Karner, who scored 13 second-half points, to begin the second half and another trey by Jessica Schloemp gave YSU a three-point edge, 30-27, at the 19:18 mark.

After two more ties and five lead changes, Karner drilled her fifth 3-pointer of the game to give YSU a 44-42 lead, its last of the game, at the 11:16 mark.

UNCW scored the next five points to take a 47-44 advantage and never relinquished the lead.

The Penguins were able to come as close as one point on two occasions, 47-46, at the 8:06 mark and 48-47 with 3:38 to go but could not overtake the Seahawks.

The Penguins take on Duquesne, Saturday, at 1 p.m.