(LEBANON, Ill., March 1)—The McKendree College women’s basketball team was defeated by Harris-Stowe State University Thursday in the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament, 76-68.

 

The visiting Hornets, the No. 4 seed, overcame a five-point halftime deficit to advance to the AMC Tournament championship game for the first time in school history. The top-seeded Bearcats, ranked No. 24 in NAIA Division I, slip to 21-11 on the year. McKendree must wait to see if they will earn an at-large bid to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship in Jackson, Tenn. The 32-team field will be announced late Tuesday night by the NAIA national office.

 

Senior forward Emily Hart (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) had 10 points on the night to move into second place on the Bearcats’ all­-time scoring list. Hart now has 1,975 points to pass Cheryl Stinchfield, who collected 1,973 points during her McKendree career from 1992-96. Hart moved into the second spot on the first of two free throws with 9:18 to play.

 

Junior forward Heather Elders (Energy, Ill./Herrin) (Energy, Ill./Herrin) led the way for McKendree with 16 points, while senior guard Katie Hasheider (Okawville, Ill./Okawville) (Okawville, Ill./Okawville) chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Kelsey Park (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) added 11 points and a team-high five steals, while Hart and sophomore forward Emily Best (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) each had 10 points for the Bearcats.

 

McKendree led 32-27 at the half, but Harris-Stowe (12-18) used an 8-2 run to grab a 35-34 lead in the first two minutes of the second half. The Bearcats quickly regained the lead and built its advantage to 51-42 on a jumper by Hasheider with 13:05 remaining. A three-pointer by Kanisha Pettis sparked a 12-2 spurt for Harris-Stowe that pushed the Hornets back in front, 54-53.

 

Hart’s two free throw at the 9:18 mark and a jumper by junior forward Suzy Gerler (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) gave McKendree its last lead of the night, 57-54. Harris-Stowe then scored the next eight points and never trailed again.

 

Laniya Stevens scored 24 of her game-high 30 points in the second half to lead Harris-Stowe. Ross chipped in with 21 points, 10 assists and six steals for the Hornets.

 

Harris-Stowe will head to Columbia, Mo., on Saturday to face No. 2 seed Columbia College for the AMC Tournament title. The Cougars outlasted the University of Illinois at Springfield in Thursday’s other AMC semifinal contest, 82-73.