NCCC’s DaVyne Johnson shoots a layup during Wednesday’s home game against Mohawk Valley Community College at the Sparks Athletic Complex in Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

SARANAC LAKE — The North Country Community College women’s basketball team suffered a 67-51 loss to the Mohawk Valley Community College Hawks on their home court Wednesday evening.

Facing off against the undefeated Hawks, which rank second in the NJCAA Region III, Division III standings with a now 6-0 record, the Saints struggled to get things going early in the first quarter.

MVCC jumped out to a 22-8 lead due to hot shooting. NCCC head coach Roger Long also thought his team started flat.

“(The Hawks) came out and shot really well from the field and they’re definitely a very good team,” he said. “I would have liked to play a little bit better in the beginning.”

The Saints had a stronger second quarter on the offensive side, but defensively, the team allowed MVCC to extend their lead to 40-20 at the intermission.

“I think in the second half, we made some adjustments, and we did what we were supposed to do, and we also did things we weren’t supposed to,” Long said.

“We missed some open shots that we normally make, some layups and some free throws,” Long said. “If we make those shots, it might’ve been a four-point game or a six-point game, and we’re back in it, and you don’t know what is going to happen.”

NCCC outscored the Hawks 15-14 in the third quarter and carried a bit of momentum into the final period.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Saints brought the score to 59-47 — the closest it had been since the first half, but with back-to-back opportunities to cut the deficit, the team came up short.

“When you get yourself in a 20-point hole, you use a lot of energy,” Long said. “You rely on everything going your way when you’re down 20 trying to get back into games.”

MVCC outscored the Saints 8-5 in the final few minutes to seal the game. The loss marked NCCC’s second straight, dropping the team’s overall record to 4-5.

“Unfortunately, there are no awards for losing games,” Long said. “So our biggest thing is to flush this game and get ready for our next game on Saturday.”

The Saints men’s basketball team was also topped by the Hawks, falling by a score of 84-82. The NCCC men fall to 6-5 overall. Both squads will hit the road on Saturday for a matchup against Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden. The men’s game will start at 1 p.m., followed by the women’s at 3 p.m.