(CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 18)—The McKendree College women’s basketball team suffered a 76-69 road defeat Saturday at the hands of Saint Xavier University.

 

Saint Xavier, the No. 17 team in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll, built a 21-point second-half lead and withstood a late rally by McKendree to hold on for the victory. The Bearcats dropped their second straight contest to move to 3-2 on the year. McKendree will return to action Tuesday at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

 

At Saint Xavier, junior forward Suzy Gerler (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) led McKendree with 17 points and nine rebounds for McKendree, while senior forward Emily Hart (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) connected for 13 points. Senior guard Katie Hasheider (Okawville, Ill./Okawville) (Okawville, Ill./Okawville) posted 11 points, nine rebounds and a team-best six assists for the Bearcats.

 

Despite shooting just 29.3 percent (12-of-41) Saint Xavier held a 32-28 lead at the half. Hart and Gerler made a pair of free throws in the first minute of the second half to tie the contest at 32-32, but the Cougars outscored McKendree 15-5 over the next four minutes to take the lead for good, 47-37. Saint Xavier (3-0) eventually stretched its advantage to 75-54 before the Bearcats put together one final rally.

 

McKendree closed the game on a 15-1 run, holding the Cougars without a field goal over the final 6:40 of play. A three-pointer by sophomore guard Kelsey Park (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) with 1:16 remaining helped the Bearcats rally within 76-67 before a layup by Hart at the end of the contest accounted for the final margin.

 

Candis Jackson led Saint Xavier with 16 points and eight assists, while Angie Brown contributed 12 points.