Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 8)- Senior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) led all players with 17 points to move into seventh place on McKendree's all-time scoring list, but the Bearcats couldn't overcome a slow start to fall in their Great Lakes Valley Conference home opener to Truman State University 65-53.

McKendree falls to 1-10 overall and 0-3 in the GLVC, and will host Quincy University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Ponce's 17 points increases her career total to 1,366 to pass Emily Best for sole possession of seventh place on the all-time scoring list. She also passed Ashley Agee for eighth place in career field goals made with 471. Sophomore Gabrielle Williams (Minooka, Ill./Plainfield East) added double-digits for the sixth time this season with 11 points.

Truman State scored the first 13 points of the game before McKendree got on the board with a free throw by junior guard/forward Jameeka Bouie (Racine, Wis./Case). The Bearcats scored the next seven points following the free throw to cut the deficit to 15-8 at the 11:33 mark of the opening half. McKendree kept it close for the remainder of the half, trailing 23-18 with just under five minutes to play, but trailed 28-20 at the break.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 36-24 shortly into the second half, but McKendree battled back again, cutting the deficit to 45-40 with 10:55 remaining. The Bearcats were unable to get their shots to fall when it counted down the stretch to fall 65-53.