Nikki Presto and Jessica Schake scored 11 points each, but the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team dropped a season-opening 76-56 decision to Bellarmine Friday at the United Electric Tip-Off Classic in Louisville, Kent.

Amanda Crojnacki grabbed a team-high six rebounds while Schake added five for The Rock (0-1), which will play Fayetteville State on Saturday in the second of a three-game stint at the tournament.

SRU trailed 7-0 but battled back to tie the game at eight.

Bellarmine then took a 21-12 lead before The Rock trimmed the deficit to two points, 22-20, with six minutes left in the first half.

The Knights, however, would take a 36-27 halftime advantage and went on to post the win.