(LEBANON, Ill. – FEB. 16) –The McKendree University women’s basketball team held No. 20 Harris-Stowe State University to 17 points on 23.3-percent shooting in the first half on their way to an upset win, 72-50.

 

McKendree improved to 19-8 overall and 11-1 in the AMC, while Harris-Stowe fell to 20-7 overall and 11-1 in the AMC. The Bearcats travel to Columbia College Tuesday night and tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

 

Junior forward Emily Best (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) led all players with 18 points in the win. Senior forward Heather Elders (Energy, Ill./Herrin) (Energy, Ill./Herrin) had 14 points and led all players with 12 rebounds and freshman guard Ashley Agee (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) scored 11 points. Chanel Ross led Harris-Stowe with 13 points and Erica Lee had 11 points in the loss.

 

The Bearcats took advantage of poor shooting by the Hornets in the first half, scoring the first four points of the game and leading by 17 points with 3:36 remaining in the first half. The Hornets hit two three-pointer’s and a layup to make the score 26-17 at half.

 

The Bearcats kept up the pace in the second half, shooting over 53-percent from the field and  led by as many as 24 points with 5 minutes remaining after a jumper by Elders. McKendree wouldn’t let Harris-Stowe back into the game and came away with their eighth-straight win.

 

McKendree shot 45.8-percent from the field in the game compared to 32.2-percent for Harris-Stowe. The Bearcats also held a slight edge from beyond the arc shooting 33.3-percent to Harris-Stowe’s 25-percent.