(JOLIET, Ill., Dec. 4)- The No. 25 McKendree University women's basketball team dropped a 61-52 decision at the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Saturday to fall to 4-8 overall.

The Bearcats will take a brief break before playing their last game of 2010 on Saturday, December 18th in Davenport, Iowa against St. Ambrose University.

Senior guard Katie Fullerton (Coulterville, Ill., Coulterville) led McKendree with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Her 14 points brought her career total to 996 points. Redshirt junior Ashley Dressler (Columbia, Mo., Rock Bridge) contributed 14 points and sophomore Jessica Steinmetz (Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette) scored 11 points.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 19-10 lead with 10:13 remaining in the first half, but the Fighting Saints bounced back to tie the game 21-21 with 4:14 left in the first half. St. Francis went a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line in the last four minutes of the first half to take a 31-28 lead at the break. The Fighting Saints did not relinquish their lead in the second half and dealt McKendree its eighth loss of the season.

Michelle Karr and Brandi Pudik both scored 16 points to lead all players for St. Francis, while Caitlyn Cody  scored 10 points.