Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 3)- The McKendree University women's basketball team dropped its first contest in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, 75-56, on Thursday night to University of Illinois at Springfield.

The Bearcats fell to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the GLVC with the loss, and will look to bounce back on Saturday, January 5, when they host Quincy University at 1 p.m.

Freshman guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) led all players with a career-high 19 points in the loss and has scored in double-figures six times in her first collegiate season.

McKendree struggled shooting early in the game, missing its first four shots before a layup by senior forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) tied the game, 2-2, at the 16:33 mark. The Prairie Stars responded with nine-straight points to jump out to a 11-2 lead, but the Bearcats battled back within five, 16-11, with nine minutes to play in the first half. Illinois-Springfield held McKendree to only nine first-half field goals and held a 36-25 edge at the half.

The Bearcats couldn't overcome the double-digit deficit in the second half and finished the game with a season-low 29.2-percent shooting from the field.

Mallory Beck and Megan Bergerud each scored in double-figures for Illinois-Springfield, finishing the game with 14 and 12 points, respectively.