(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 27)—The McKendree College women’s basketball team suffered its fourth loss in its last six games with a 77-63 setback Saturday at Missouri Baptist University.

 

The host Spartans shot 60 percent in the second half to rally from a four-point halftime deficit while holding McKendree to just 31.2 percent (24-of-77) from the field for the game. The Bearcats slip to 12-9 overall and 3-3 in the American Midwest Conference. McKendree will close out a run of four games in seven days with an AMC home contest Tuesday against Hannibal-LaGrange College. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.

 

Senior guard Katie Hasheider (Okawville, Ill./Okawville) (Okawville, Ill./Okawville) led a balanced attack for McKendree with 13 points, while senior forward Emily Hart (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) and junior forward Heather Elders (Energy, Ill./Herrin) (Energy, Ill./Herrin) each chipped in with 10 points for the Bearcats. Elders grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds and freshman guard Haley Klingelhoefer (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) dished out four assists in the contest.

 

The first half of Saturday’s game was tightly contested with five ties and 10 lead changes. Missouri Baptist took a 31-27 lead with 4:53 left in the period before McKendree closed the half on an 8-0 run. Hart scored six of the eight points for the Bearcats seized a 35-31 lead at the intermission.

 

Missouri Baptist used a 13-2 run to open the second half to grab the lead for good, 44-37, with 16:34 to play. McKendree pulled as close as 48-46 on a pair of free throws by Klingelhoefer with 10:53 on the clock, but the Spartans were able to slowly pull away for the victory.

 

Aubry Parsons scored 22 of her season-high 36 points in the second half to boost Missouri Baptist, which moved to 10-10 overall and 2-4 in the AMC. April Redus connected for 16 points, while Alex Peoples came off the bench to score 13 points. Parsons and Peoples each collected eight rebounds to lead the Spartans.