LEBANON, Ill. - The women's basketball team will tip off their regular season at the friendly confines of the Harry M. Statham Sports Center as they will face the Mustangs of Mount Mercy University on Friday, November 8th at 6:00 PM CT in Lebanon, Illinois.
This will be the first official time the two programs meet on the floor historically. The Mustangs, a NAIA-member institution, come via Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as they play in the Heart of America Conference (HAAC). This is the second straight year McKendree will open up the regular season at home.
BEARCATS CURRENTLY
The Bearcats are coming off a blowout win over Eureka College in an exhibition matchup last Friday. They opened up a 54-14 halftime lead, holding the Red Devils to only five points in the second period of play. Eureka outscored McKendree in the fourth quarter 27-11, but the home team in purple would win by a comfortable margin 89-56 and closed out the preseason on a good note.
Sophomore guard Emma Slings (Polk City, Iowa) and sophomore forward Baylie Parks (Lake Zurich, Ill.) both led the Bearcats in scoring with 12 points each as Slings would get abundant eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals, while Parks finished with five boards and three takeaways. Junior guard Chloe White (Brussles, Ill.) and senior guard Clare Breden (Jerseyville, Ill.) also rounded out the double-digit plateau for the Bearcats as White contributed 11 and Breden put in 10 in the win.
McKendree shot 55.9% from the floor, 37.5% from deep, and 58.6% from the charity stripe. They doubled the Red Devils' points in the paint by dropping 48 to their 24. The Bearcats played fast, up-tempo basketball by coming away with 17 fast-break points to the Eureka's six while also earning 36 points from their reserves. All players on McKendree's squad played in the game.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Mount Mercy University | Friday, November 8th, 6:00 PM CT
Last Matchup: N/A
The Mustangs are coming off a one-point loss to Bellevue University on Saturday after winning by a good margin the day prior against Dickinson State University to open their season They also play a game tonight (Wednesday) against St. Ambrose University. Mount Mercy went 17-11 overall and 15-9 in the conference and ended up earning a five-seed in the postseason tournament where they lost Benedictine College in the first round. They have been picked to finish in the same spot this year at fifth place in the 2024-25 preseason coaches' poll.
Senior guard Malie Marfil leads the team in scoring with 19.5 points a game while averaging 2.5 rebounds and steals a contest and 2.0 assists. Junior guard Madison Skelton is not too far behind her teammate in terms of putting the ball into the hoop as she connects on 18 points a game herself while also bringing down 4.0 boards and dishing out 3.0 assists. The Mustangs has six of their 16-player roster consist of seniors and six double-digit scorers
The team scores a highly 85.5 points a game thus far into the season while shooting a solid 56.3% from the field and 53.4% from distance. Mount Mercy also grabs 37 boards a contest.
TUNE IN-FO
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TEAM ROSTERS: [McKendree] [Mount Mercy]
TEAM SCHEDULES: [McKendree] [Mount Mercy]
TEAM STATISTICS: [McKendree] [Mount Mercy]
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