MISENHEIMER, N.C. - A slow start proved to be too much to overcome, as the Anderson women's basketball team dropped a 74-65 decision to Pfeiffer in non-conference action Tuesday night at Merner Gym.

In the first meeting since AU claimed a double-digit win in the 2010 Conference Carolinas Tournament, both teams got off to a slow start offensively, as Anderson (0-2) opened by connecting on just one of its first six shots, while Pfeiffer (1-2) was just 2-of-12 from the field to open the contest.

Clinging to a two-point lead with 12:01 remaining in the first half, Pfeiffer used a 24-4 run over the next nine minutes to break open the game, as the Trojans went on a scoring drought by misfiring on 10 of its next 12 shots and committed four turnovers, enabling the Lady Falcons to push out to a 36-13 lead with 2:14 on the clock.

Junior guard Alissa Diaz helped snapped the run by scoring nine of her team-high 17 points inside the final two minutes of the frame, trimming the deficit to 36-22 as the teams went to the locker rooms.

Pfeiffer maintained the double-digit advantage until the 6:47 mark, when Trojan junior forward Breonda Shannon dropped in a jumper, but it was as close as AU would get until the final horn, as Pfeiffer's Brittany Cox answered with a 3-pointer.

The Lady Falcons shot 42.9 percent from the field, including 34.6 percent from beyond the arc, while Anderson shot nearly as well overall, at 42.4 percent overall, but connected on just 4-of-21 from long range. The two teams battled to a stalemate on the boards, as each squad garnered 38 rebounds.

Diaz led the Trojans with 17 points and dished out three assists, while Shannon posted her first double-double of the season, with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Pfeiffer's Cox lead all scorers with 31` points.

Anderson closes out its season-opening four-game road swing by competing in the Wingate by Wyndham Lady Pirate Classic, hosted by Armstrong Atlantic on Friday and Saturday in Savannah, Ga. The Trojans square off against Flagler Friday at 5 p.m., then face the host Lady Pirates Saturday at 3:30 p.m.