(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Nov. 1)—The McKendree University women's basketball team opened its 2019-20 pre-season slate with a 74-48 loss in exhibition play at NCAA Division I Saint Louis University.
 
The Bearcats trailed by just three points at the half, but the host Billikens torched the nets for 57.9 percent shooting (22-of-38) over the final 20 minutes of play to pull away for the victory. McKendree will have a day off before heading to Bloomington, Ind., to wrap up its pre-season action on Sunday at Indiana University. Tip-off between the Bearcats and the Big Ten's Hoosiers will take place at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) at Assembly Hall.
       
Two McKendree players scored in double figures against Saint Louis. Senior guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) led the balanced attack with 12 points to go along with seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) connected for 11 points, going 7-of-8 from the free throw line in Friday's contest. Senior forward Shayli Florine (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) contributed seven points and six rebounds for McKendree.
 
There were six ties and four lead changes in the first half of Friday's match-up. McKendree grabbed its first lead of the night at 6-4 on a jumper by senior guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) with just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. Saint Louis eventually regained a 13-10 advantage late in the period before a fast-break basket by senior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) on the Bearcats' final possession of the quarter trimmed the deficit to 13-12 after 10 minutes.
 
Both teams cooled off from the field in the second quarter, but McKendree managed to move in front, taking a 17-13 lead following a three-pointer by Hart with 7:23 remaining until halftime. SLU then reeled off six consecutive points to surge back in front. The Billikens pushed the margin to five points when junior guard Madison Jones (Abingdon, IL/Abiingdon-Avon) came up with an offensive rebound and lay-up with nine seconds on the clock to send the Bearcats into the locker room down just 24-21 at the intermission.
 
Saint Louis took command of the game over the first seven minutes of the third quarter, opening the period with a 17-2 burst to stretch its advantage to 41-23. The Billikens outscored the Bearcats 27-10 in the period to take a 51-31 lead into the final quarter before coasting to the exhibition victory.
 
Ciaja Harbison led Saint Louis with 19 points while Brooke Flowers came off the bench for a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Billikens.
 
Following Sunday's exhibition game at Indiana, McKendree will tip off its 2019-20 regular season on Friday, Nov. 8 against Purdue University Northwest at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge in Springfield, Ill. The University of Illinois at Springfield will host the two-day event.