(SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – FEB. 9) – The McKendree University women’s basketball team overcame a five point halftime deficit to win an American Midwest Conference game at University of Illinois-Springfield, 78-67.

 

McKendree improved to 17-8 overall and 9-1 in the AMC, while Illinois-Springfield fell to 10-16 overall and 4-6 in the AMC. The Bearcats travel to Missouri Baptist University Tuesday evening for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

 

Senior forward Heather Elders (Energy, Ill./Herrin) (Energy, Ill./Herrin) led the Bearcats with 16 points and is now 10 points away from 1,000 career points at McKendree. Junior forward Emily Best (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) (Wood River, Ill./East Alton-Wood River) and senior forward Suzy Gerler (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) scored 15 and 14 points, respectively. Freshman guard Ashley Agee (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) rounded out the Bearcats double-digit scoring with 12 points. Senior guard Amanda Lance (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) led the Bearcats with nine rebounds and junior guard Kelsey Park (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) had seven assists in the win.

 

The Bearcats held an early 9-3 lead in the contest, but the Prairie Stars would take a 24-23 lead with 3:21 remaining in the first half. The Bearcats wouldn’t overcome the lead in the first half and trailed 30-25 at halftime. The Bearcats came out in the second half and went on an 8-1 run to take a 33-31 lead on a jumper by Gerler at the 17:30 mark.  A three-pointer by Agee would give the Bearcats a 50-41 lead with 11:39 left in the game, a lead the Bearcats would not relinquish, to come away with a 78-67 win.