(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 13) – The McKendree University women's basketball team dropped an exhibition contest against Columbia College, 66-62 Friday night. The Bearcats remain 5-2 overall on the season.

Both teams remained scoreless for the first two minutes off play until senior guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) recorded a three-pointer to put McKendree on the board first. From there, back-and-forth play ensued with the Bearcats coming out on top 15-13 at the end of the first quarter. Competition remained consistent throughout the second quarter but the Cougars managed to take a one point lead at halftime, 26-25 over McKendree.

The Bearcats scored first to open the second half and regain the lead, 28-26 off of a sophomore guard Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) three. Columbia answered back with a seven-point run of its own to go up, 35-28, marking the eighth lead change of the game. The Cougars scored the most in the third period with 24 total points, while the Bearcats scored 15.

The roles reversed in the fourth quarter as McKendree continued to chip away at Columbia's lead. The biggest threat to the Cougars came in the last minute of play as Heberg drained a three-pointer to get the Bearcats within three, 61-58 with 28 second remaining in the game. McKendree kept the pressure high but was not able to overpower Columbia as the Cougars went on to win the game, 66-62.

Both Heberg and Krause recorded double-digit points for the Bearcats, Heberg with 16 and Krause with 15. Heberg also tallied two rebounds, one assist, and two steals in the game while Krause managed three rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal for McKendree.

Senior guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) led the team in rebounds as the only Bearcat to tally double-digit rebounds with three offensive and eight defensive rebounds on the night. Both senior forward Brianna Johnson (Lodi, WI/Beaver Dam) and senior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) were essential rebounders for McKendree as well, each tallying five total rebounds.

The Bearcats will compete next in Puerto Rico with two games on Dec. 17 and 19. The first is against the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras at 1 p.m. and the second one is against the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez at 3 p.m.