For the second straight game, the Quinnipiac’s women’s basketball team started strong and took an early lead. And for the second straight game, that strong start could only lead to a disappointing loss.

The Bobcats fell to the George Washington University Colonials on Saturday, 78-67. It was their third straight loss, bringing them to a 1-5 record, their worst record through their first six games since the 2010-11 season.

The Bobcats started off fast in the first quarter. First-year forward Cur’Tiera Haywood made a pair of threes to kick off her first career start and first-year forward Mikala Morris went 3-for-3 from the field to give the Bobcats a 22-15 lead.

On the defensive side, the Bobcats were just as strong. The Colonials entered the game shooting 36% from behind the arc, but only managed one made 3-pointer on seven attempts in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw a slower Bobcats team, but it managed to hang onto a one point lead. Haywood set a new career-high in points for a game just halfway through the second quarter when she converted an and-one to bring her total to 11. She went on to finish the game with 13 points.

“I work on my shot every day in practice, so just seeing them go through just lets me know I’m a good shooter, I’m a great shooter, I can keep making these shots in the game for my team,” Haywood said.

After giving up 11 3-pointers in their last game, the Bobcat defense showed an improved form. They pressured the Colonials soon after they crossed half-court, switched often, and communicated. On offense, the Bobcats found driving lanes and balanced between finishing at the rim and kicking out for an open 3-pointer.

The third quarter looked much different.

The Bobcat offense was nowhere to be found in the third quarter. The Bobcats scored just eight points in the quarter, and converted just one field goal on 18 attempts. Their one point lead disappeared, and the Colonials led the rest of the way.

The Bobcats struggled to find an offensive groove early in the fourth, but managed an impressive effort in the final minutes. Their full-court press frustrated the Colonials and they forced a couple of turnovers that brought the game within eight points but they couldn’t close it out further and the Colonials hung on for the win.

Colonials leading scorer, redshirt-freshman Tori Hyduke, finished the game with 22 points on 60% shooting including four 3-pointers.

Junior forward Shaq Edwards led the Bobcats in scoring with 18 points, making five of her last six shots to continue her strong start to her first season with Quinnipiac. While the result may not have been what she wanted, she still found a bright spot in the loss.

“I like the effort and our energy even though we started to get down in the third quarter, we still had high energy on the bench and on the court,” Edwards said.

For their next game, the Bobcats will travel to Orlando to take on the University of Central Florida Knights on Dec. 17. While the record may not be what the team wants, Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri doesn’t seem discouraged by it.

“We keep making progress,” Fabbri said. “You’re not getting the result. You know we’re just grinding these out right now and staying together and getting the compete to eventually get the tide turned where you’re seeing the result with wins coming.”