The Emery Lady Spartans opened the new basketball season with a 56-47 loss to the Cedar Red in battle between the defending 3A and 4A State Champions Tuesday evening in Cedar City.

Entering Tuesday’s road contest with a 40-game winning streak, the Lady Spartans trailed 29-27 at the end of the first half. Cedar extended the lead to four by the end of the third quarter, but managed to pull away late in the fourth to secure the win.

Debuting a brand new starting lineup for the first time in nearly three years, the Lady Spartans connected on just 15-of-45 attempts from the field. While shooting a much lower percentage, Cedar managed 69 shots, hitting 19.

Sophomore Tambrie Tuttle led the way for Emery with a team best 14 points. Senior Tayden Nielson also reached double-figures by scoring 13. Kiri Cook contributed nine points and Baylee Jacobson knocked down two three-point shots to finish with six.

Cedar senior Maci Torgerson logged a game-high 19 points in the victory, including one make from deep. Torgerson finished as the only Cedar player to reach double-digits, but received complimentary help from Denim Henkel and Logan Laws who each score eight.

Emery will have an opportunity to log its first win of the season when the girls return to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 3 with a home contest against Union. Tuesday’s game will begin a stretch of three games in three days, with a road game against Beaver coming the following night.