(COLUMBIA, Mo., Feb. 10)- The McKendree University women's basketball team started strong and held a one-point lead late in the second half, but couldn't hold on in a, 60-53, loss at No. 17 Columbia College.

McKendree fell to 9-15 overall and 5-6 in the American Midwest Conference with the loss. The Bearcats will host Missouri Baptist University on Saturday for an AMC contest at 2 p.m.

McKendree had four players in double figures and two record double-doubles in the loss. Senior guard Katie Fullerton (Coulterville, Ill., Coulterville) led all players with 15 points and 10 rebounds to record her ninth double-double of the season. Sophomore guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill., Breese Central) had 12 points, while sophomore forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill., Jerseyville) had 10 points and 10 rebounds to record her third double-double in 2010-11. Junior forward Ashley Dressler (Columbia, Mo., Rock Bridge) also scored in double-digits with 10 points.

The Bearcats had the advantage early, and held a 16-12 lead with nine minutes to go in the first half, before the Cougars went on a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 22-16 lead. A jumper by Dressler ended McKendree's dry spell, and the Bearcats battled back to within two, 22-20, on a jumper by Fullerton, but were outscored 7-3 down the final stretch of the first half to trail 29-23 at the break.

Columbia jumped out to 41-31 lead over the first five minutes of the first half and appeared to be in control, until McKendree found its rhythm with 12 minutes remaining and a three-pointer by Voss capped off a 12-2 run that gave the Bearcats a 49-48 lead with under five minutes to play. Voss' basket would be the last field goal for McKendree in the contest and the Cougars were perfect from the free throw line in the final three minutes to earn the win.

Kayla Rice led Columbia with 12 points, while Amanda Phillips and Denise Rosario each had 10 points. Phillips also pulled down 10 rebounds to record the double-double.