Box Score Saint Mary-of-the-Woods took a 58-41 lead early in the fourth quarter when Kylee Stepp (West Terre Haute, Ind./West Vigo) hit a 3-pointer, but IU East went on a 9-0 run to pull within eight with 5 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the River States Conference opener for the Pomeroys.
The host Red Wolves' Kennedy Griffin caught fire in the final minutes, scoring 10 points over the final 2:50 to propel IU East to a 68-66 comeback win.
Griffin hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 18 seconds left, but the Pomeroys had opportunities to tie or take the lead. Madison White (Nashville, Ind./Columbus North) hit 1 of 2 at the free-throw line to make it a 67-66 deficit.
SMWC earned another shot, inbounding under the basket with three seconds left. Avalee Jeffers (Cory, Ind./Clay City) was fouled when making a cut during the in-bounds play but missed two attempts to tie the score.
The Pomeroys fall to 4-1, 0-1 RSC.
Abby Worley (Greenfield, Ind./Mount Vernon) had seven points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and two steals for the Pomeroys. Jeffers had 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Brooklynn Jones (Loogootee, Ind./Loogootee) led the Pomeroys with 14 points.
Allyson Hardiek (Altamont, Ill./Altamont) also chipped in with 11 points.
The Pomeroys play host to Cincinnati-Clermont on Tuesday at 5 p.m.