Box Score
(LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 11)- The McKendree University women's basketball dropped its first game of the season on Friday night to Bellarmine University, 69-67, at the United Electric Tip-Off Classic in Louisville, Ky.

The Bearcats fell to 3-1 overall on the season and will play its second consecutive NCAA Division II opponent on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the consolation game against American International College (Mass.).

Freshman guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville) matched her career-high with 17 points in the loss. Junior guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) and junior forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) each recorded season-high's with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Bearcats traded baskets back-and-forth with the host Knights in the first half, before a jumper by junior forward Courtney Harris (Wildwood, Mo./St. Joseph Academy) put McKendree in front 9-8 with 15:57 left in the first half. McKendree held onto a single digit lead for the majority of the first half, before a jumper by redshirt junior forward Emily Woodland (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) gave the Bearcats a 38-27 lead with 1:35 left that they carried into the half.

McKendree held onto its double-digit lead for just under 10 minutes in the second half before a three-pointer by Kylie Brady of the Knights cut the Bearcats lead to 53-44 at the 9:31 mark. Two free throws by Brady at the 4:14 mark gave Bellarmine a 60-59 lead, its first of the second half, with 4:14 remaining. The Knights led by as many as seven, 68-61, with a minute left and held on down the stretch to deal McKendree its first loss of the season.

Brady led all players with 26 points, while Allison Matheis was the only other Bellarmine player in double figures with 10 points.