(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 12) – The McKendree University women's basketball team is set to face Columbia College on Friday in an exhibition contest. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center on McKendree's campus in Lebanon, Ill.

The Bearcats currently sit 5-2 overall on the season and 0-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition. McKendree lost its opening conference contest, 71-66 to Southern Indiana on Dec. 3.

Senior guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) leads the team in scoring with an average of 18.1 points per game and 127 total points on the season. Heberg is shooting .438 percent from field goal positions and .459 percent from behind the three point line. Sophomore guard Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) is the other Bearcat to average double-digit points with an 11 point per game average.

Defensively, senior guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) leads the team in total rebounds with 75 recorded on the season, 12 offensive and 63 defensive rebounds. Hart is also tied for the lead with Callie Pohlman (Appleton, WI/Appleton North) for steals on the year, each with nine. Senior forward Brianna Johnson (Lodi, WI/Beaver Dam) is also a key defensive player who has tallied 42 total rebounds, 12 offensive and 30 defensive.

After Friday's contest, the Bearcats will be headed to warmer weather with a trip to Puerto Rico to take on the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras and the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez Dec. 17-19. The game against Rio Piedras is schedules to begin at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17 while the contest against Mayaguez is set for 3 p.m. on Dec. 19.

ABOUT COLUMBIA COLLEGE:
the Cougars are 9-2 overall on the season and 5-0 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Columbia is coming off of a 68-62 victory over Park University Dec. 7 where two Cougars tallied double-digit points. Senior forward Raegan Wieser led the pack with 16 points while senior forward Mai Nienhueser was close behind with 15 total points. Nienhueser was also essential on defense recording eight rebounds for the Cougars.

The Cougars have three athletes averaging double-digit figures on the season. Wieser leads the team with 14.3 points per game, senior guard Jordan Alford is next averaging 13.3 points per game, and Nienhueser rounds out the efforts with 10.6 points per game on average.

For more information on Columbia College, click here. For a full season stat list for the Cougars, click here.