(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 20)- The McKendree University women's basketball team had its comeback bid fall short on Saturday night in a 53-49 loss to University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The No. 25 Bearcats fell to 2-5 overall and will host No. 4 Campbellsville University on Friday, November 26th at 7 p.m. in the McKendree Thanksgiving Classic.

McKendree jumped out to a 4-0 lead on two layups by sophomore forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill., Jerseyville), but both teams traded baskets and the Tritons battled back and tied the game 6-6 on a jumper by Caitlyn Moody with 10:37 left in the first half. McKendree took an 11-8 lead on a jumper by senior guard Kasie Frazier (Lebanon, Ill., Lebanon), but UMSL went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 17-11 lead. The Tritons held over the final five minutes of the the first half and led 26-19 at the break.

The Bearcats trailed by as many as 15 in the second half, but went on an 8-0 run capped off by a layup by sophomore guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill., Breese Central) to cut the deficit to 46-41 with just under five minutes left in the game. McKendree battled down the stretch, but the Tritons made five-of-eight free throws in the final two minutes of the game to shatter the Bearcats' hopes of a comeback.

Freshman guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo., Parkway South) led all players with 12 points, while senior guard Katie Fullerton (Coulterville, Ill., Coulterville) had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Caitlyn Moody had 12 points to lead Missouri-St. Louis, while Kelly Carter had 11 points. Hana Haden and Allie Hogan both contributed 10 points for the Tritons in the win.