Box Score (KIRKSVILLE, Mo., Jan. 11)- The McKendree University women's basketball team lost a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup at Truman State University on Saturday 81-66.

The Bearcats fall to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in the GLVC with the loss, and will begin a four-game homestand this week when they host Lewis University on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Sophomore guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) led McKendree with 15 points in the loss, while freshman guard/forward Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) had a career-high 14 points including an 8-of-11 mark from the free throw line. Senior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) and sophomore forward Kara Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) also scored in double-figures with 13 points apiece.

The teams went toe-to-toe in the first half and traded lead changes with Truman State holding a slight shooting edge from the field, .484-percent to .464-percent, in the first half. The Bearcats struggled offensively from the outside in the opening period and only had two three's, while the Bulldogs drained seven in first half and used a 13-0 run in the final four minutes of the first half to jump out to a 42-29 lead at the break.

McKendree outscored Truman State, 20-6, in the paint in the second half, but outside shooting remained a factor for the Bearcats, going 1-of-6 from three, while the Bulldogs kept its hot hand and made half of their 12 attempts from beyond the arc.

Courtney Strait led all players with 24 points for Truman State.