(Lebanon, Ill., Dec. 1) – The McKendree University women's basketball dropped its conference opener Thursday night inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center against the University of Southern Indiana. The Bearcats fell by a score of 66-40.

The loss dips McKendree to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference this season. The Bearcats return to the hardwood Saturday at 1 p.m. when they play host to No. 5 Bellarmine University.

McKendree was led by junior guard Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) who scored seven points to go with three rebounds and one block. Freshman forward Shalyi Florine finished with six points off the bench adding three boards, while sophomore Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) chipped in five points and two steals. Junior guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) hauled down a team high five rebounds adding two assists and three steals.

The Bearcats outscored the Screaming Eagles 6-0 in the point and got six points from its bench as the teams played to an 8-8 tie after 10 minutes of action.
Southern Indiana took control in the second quarter outscoring McKendree 24-8 converting five second chance points as part of an 18-3 run to take a 32-16 lead into intermission.

The Screaming Eagles continued to roll in the third quarter taking advantage of 12 Bearcat turnovers and put back eight second chance points to extend the lead to 59-28.

McKendree worked the ball inside in the fourth quarter outscoring Southern Indiana 8-4 in the final 10 minutes with eight of the Bearcats 12 fourth quarter points coming from the bench as junior guard Abby Smith (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) sunk a three, while Florine and junior guard Halle Devoe (Springfield, Ill./Southeast) each laid in baskets to aid the effort. McKendree outscored the Screaming Eagles 12-7 in the final frame, but the Bearcats were unable to dig out of the hole and fell to Southern Indiana.