Box Score (SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Nov. 14)- The McKendree University women's basketball team dropped its season opener on Friday night at Lake Superior State University 71-58.

The Bearcats fall to 0-1 and will play Hillsdale College at 2 p.m. ET. Junior forward Danielle Amann-Stewart (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) and junior guard/forward Jameeka Bouie (Racine, Wis./Case) led McKendree with 12 points each, while senior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) and sophomore guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) each added 10 points in the loss.

McKendree edged the Lakers from the field, shooting 47.7 percent from the field to the hosts 45.3 percent, but Lake Superior State made 10 of its 21 three-point attempts to the Bearcats' three from downtown.

 A slow start by McKendree allowed the Lakers to build an early 14-4 lead, but the Bearcats settled in cut the deficit to 25-19 following a jumper by Amann-Stewart with 6:24 left in the first half. Lake Superior State went on to outscore McKendree 15-8 over the final six minutes of the half to hold a 40-27 lead at the break.

The Bearcats cut the deficit back to single digits, 50-41, just over five minutes into the second half, but Lake Superior State proved to be too much down the stretch.

Stephanie Fisher led all players with 28 points for the Lakers.