LEBANON, Ill. - Clare Breden scored a game-high 27 points and led four McKendree Bearcats in double-figures as they downed the Truman State Women 76-71 in the GLVC curtain raiser on Saturday afternoon. Truman returns home to host Lewis (Ill.) on Monday at 5:15 p.m.

The teams exchanged the lead 10 times in the first half before Truman took their last lead on a three-pointer by Emma Bulman early in the third quarter. McKendree scored the next six points and led by 11 at the end of three with a 59-48 advantage.

A triple by Ellie Weltha with under five minutes left to play pulled the Bulldogs to within three at 63-60. Both Weltha and Claire Rake would foul out of the game and McKendree would use the free throw line to maintain their lead. Emma Bulman knocked down a three-pointer with over a minute left in regulation to make it 70-67 but an offensive rebound and put back by Breden thwarted the Bulldogs comeback hopes. 

McKendree outscored Truman from the line 23-7 and had 19 more attempts at the line (29-10). Turnovers were also a major factor with the Bulldogs turning the ball over a season-high 24 times. 

Breden was 8-of-10 from inside the arc and made 11-of-14 free throws for her 27 points while playing all 40 minutes. 

Bulman scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Bailey Kliewer added 17 and Weltha 14 before fouling out. Truman State was 6-of-25 from outside.