The Hillcrest Academy girls basketball team is having a tough year. Last week, with three games scheduled, they added to their losing streak.

The Lady Ravens finished the week 1-17 with three losses. On the bright side, the team improved each game.

The team had a tough start to the week, facing Wapello at Hillcrest Union. Wapello applied a blistering press that the Ravens had trouble breaking.

Wapello went up 20-5 after the first quarter and then applied more pressure in the second quarter, finishing the first half up 47-12.

Hillcrest failed to score in the third quarter and mustered just five more points in the fourth to finish 71-17.

Sophomore Esther Hughes and junior Yani Gutierrez each had six of the Ravens’ 17 points.

Sarena Gerber brought the Hillcrest crowd to its feet when she drained a 3-pointer in the fourth. Danae McGaffey had the other two Hillcrest points in the fourth.

The score was closer, but the result was the same when Hillcrest traveled to Winfield-Mount Union on Thursday.

Esther Hughes scored 13 and Yani Gutierrez scored 11, but their combined 24 points was not enough as the Lady Ravens fell to Winfield 53-25.

The Hillcrest girls came back the next night with a road trip to Cardinal.

Despite Yani Gutierrez’s double-double, the Lady Ravens fell 52-38.

Gutierrez scored 26 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead Hillcrest. Esther Hughes scored 10 and had four rebounds.