MACOMB, Ill. — Despite a career-high-shattering performance from senior guard Presley Brown and five double-digit scorers, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team couldn't keep pace with Western Illinois in falling 105-82 in a high-scoring affair Saturday night at Western Hall.

Brown piled up a game- and career-high 26 points for Bellarmine (0-3), easily exceeding her previous career best of 14 points. She was 11-for-22 from the floor — career highs in those respective shooting categories as well — while racking up six rebounds, four steals and three assists against Western Illinois (3-1).

"She was focused and knew what she could do out there," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "I was proud of her. I thought she bowed her neck tonight."

Brown wasn't the only Knight who set new personal standards. Sophomore guard Mackenzie Keelin and junior guard Jaela Johnson, who are both transfers, each set new career highs for scoring. Keelin knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in scoring 15 points, while Johnson drilled a pair of trifectas in scoring 12 along with collecting four assists and three steals.

Freshman forward Haley Stoklosa hit 4-of-6 shots in recording her first collegiate double-digit scoring game with 11 points. Senior guard Kathleen Scott matched her with 11 points, just one shy of her career high.

Western Illinois had no shortage of offensive standouts either. Jada Thorpe led five Leathernecks in double figures with 21 points. While WIU is known for volume 3-point shooting, the Leathernecks amassed 60 points in the paint against Bellarmine, which led to a 52.2-percent shooting performance.

Western Illinois built a 30-17 lead after a first quarter in which Bellarmine was whistled for nine fouls, and the Leathernecks capitalized by sinking 11 of their 12 free-throw attempts in the period. WIU then held a 54-34 advantage at halftime, with 34 of its points coming in the paint.

Bellarmine trailed by 24 early in the third quarter, but Brown and Johnson both canned 3-pointers during a 10-0 run that forced a Western Illinois timeout. Unfortunately for the Knights, the Leathernecks responded with their own 10-0 run, which swung the contest in their favor for good.

"We've got to get better, and get better in practice," Dugan said. "We've got to have stiffer competition in practice. We've got to get everybody on the same page, playing hard against each other and going strong against each other."

Bellarmine caps its four-game road stretch to begin the season at 7 p.m. (ET) Tuesday at Ohio State.

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