(CARBONDALE, Ill., Oct. 26)—The McKendree University women's basketball team traveled to Carbondale, Ill., on Friday for an exhibition contest at Southern Illinois University. The host Salukis pulled away in the second half to register a 73-39 win over the Bearcats.
 
Sophomore guard Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) led a balanced attack for McKendree with eight points. Junior guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) came off the bench to add seven points while senior forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) contributed six points, hitting all three of her shots from the floor. Morton, freshman guard Kylie Ballmann (Nashotah, WI/Arrowhead) and junior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) each pulled down a team-best four rebounds as Jensen also handed out four assists in the effort.
 
Southern Illinois edged out to a 17-11 lead after one quarter of play before McKendree battled back in the second period. The Bearcats shot 50 percent from the floor in the quarter as they pulled even at 19-19 with just under seven minutes remaining until halftime. The Salukis regained a slight advantage before building an eight-point cushion at the intermission, 35-27. Southern Illinois took control by scoring the first 15 points of the third quarter and cruised to the win.
 
McKendree will open its 2018-19 regular season on Friday, Nov. 9 against Purdue University Northwest at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge in Hammond, Ind.