Both the women’s and men’s basketball teams got off to impressive starts Saturday night.

The Lady Skyhawks won the first of two exhibition games 75-60 over the National Women’s Basketball League Elite team while the Skyhawks, who started with a head of steam, couldn’t quite hold off the Sports Reach team as they fell 100-97.

The Lady Skyhawks went into halftime with a 40-24 lead and never looked back the entire second half.

The Lady Skyhawks were led by Senior Julie Young from Clarksville, Tenn. Young, a second team preseason All-OVC selection, led the offense, scoring 17 points in the game and tacking on 12 rebounds.

Senior Tiffany Brundige, along with junior Danielle Page, put up 10 points apiece.

Overall, the Lady Skyhawks forced 19 turnovers and had 15 steals against the NWBL Elite team.

After getting off to a good start, the Skyhawks allowed the Sports Reach team to stick around and went into halftime trailing by three. The Sports Reach team led throughout the second half.

However, with less than a minute to play, the Skyhawks took a one-point lead. The Skyhawks had a chance to send the game to overtime but a shot by Skyhawk Cleve Woodfork bounced off the rim as the game ended.

The Sports Reach team was led by former University of Louisville player James Brewer who scored 38 points while Larry Haralson scored 15 points and Ray Cunnigham threw in 14 points.

Former University of Alabama player Kenny Walker added a dozen points.

Six Skyhawks had double digits in the exhibition. Senior Earl Bullock, last season’s OVC Newcomer of the Year and a preseason All-OVC second team selection, led the Skyhawks with 20 points. Bullock hit four three-pointers and was 8-of-17 from the field.

Jeremy Kelly added 17 points, Woodfork added 16, Tyler George and Justin Smith put up 12 points each and Chris Carter put up 11 points.

Skyhawk coach Bret Campbell let his entire team play Saturday in the exhibition.