(COLUMBIA, Mo., Feb. 8)—The McKendree College women’s basketball team posted its second victory this season over an NAIA-ranked team with an 81-74 decision Thursday at Columbia College. The Cougars entered the contest ranked No. 19 in NAIA Division I.

 

Senior forward Emily Hart (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) scored a team-high 21 points, and sophomore forward Emily Best (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (Worden, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) added 17 points off the bench to lead the Bearcats to the victory. Junior forward Heather Elders (Energy, Ill./Herrin) (Energy, Ill./Herrin) contributed 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, and sophomore guard Kelsey Park (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) had 11 points as McKendree became the first American Midwest Conference program to win on consecutive visits to Columbia’s Arena at Southwell Complex. In addition to Thursday’s win, McKendree also defeated Columbia 69-56 in last year’s AMC Tournament semifinal round.

 

McKendree improves to 15-9 overall and 6-3 in the AMC standings. Columbia suffered its first AMC loss of the year, dropping to 8-1 in league play and 20-4 overall. The Cougars had a season-high nine-game win streak snapped by the Bearcats. With its victory, McKendree was able to earn a split of the regular-season series with Columbia – the Cougars took the first meeting Jan. 13 in Lebanon by a score of 84-73.

 

In Thursday’s game, Columbia sprinted to a 10-4 lead before McKendree chipped away at the deficit. A 6-1 spurt cut the Bearcats’ deficit to 11-10 just five minutes into the contest. The lead then changed hands seven times over the next five minutes when McKendree grabbed the lead for good. A jumper in the lane by sophomore forward Julie Garrison (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) keyed a 10-1 run that pushed the Bearcats in front 30-22 with 5:38 left in the half.

 

Later in the period, Garrison hit one of two free throws to give McKendree its largest lead of the half, 39-28, before Columbia outscored the Bearcats 6-1 over the final 1:45 to pull within 40-34 at the intermission.

 

McKendree led by as many as 14 points on two different occasions in the second half before the Cougars put together one final rally. A three-pointer by Whitney Widaman with 4:06 remaining capped a 16-6 Columbia run to trim the Bearcats’ lead to 72-68. But McKendree was able to hold on down the stretch at the free throw line, scoring its final seven points from the stripe.

 

Fouls played a key role in the contest as both teams combined for 55 infractions. Columbia committed 33 fouls, and four Cougars fouled out of the game. Hart was the only McKendree player lost to fouls, picking up her fifth with 6:56 on the clock.

 

LeAnn Fossum led Columbia with a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Amber Lewellen added 14 points. Jessica Wilkerson chipped in with 13 points in a reserve role for Columbia.

 

In addition to Thursday’s win over No. 19 Columbia, McKendree recorded a 77-71 overtime victory against then-No. 7 The Master’s College (Calif.) on Dec. 29 at the GSAC Challenge in Azusa, Calif.

 

 

NOTE: McKendree College Alumni Night will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17 when the Bearcats take on the University of Illinois at Springfield at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. The McKendree women’s team will play at 5 p.m., with tip-off for the men’s contest set for 7 p.m. McKendree alumni will receive free general admission and a T-shirt. There will be special activities for alumni between games. For more information, contact the McKendree Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-BEARCAT, ext. 6813.