(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 23) – The No. 14 McKendree University women's basketball team watched a 12 point halftime lead evaporate in the second half Tuesday night, but hit four three-pointers in the final eight minutes to come back and earn a 77-66 win over Lindenwood University.
McKendree, now 23-5 overall, will travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark., on February 25th to play an American Midwest Conference game against Williams Baptist College at 5:30 p.m.
Junior guard Ashley Agee (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) led all players with 23 points and moved into sole possession of ninth place on McKendree's all-time scoring list with 1,165 career points. Senior guard Haley Klingelhoefer (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) and junior guard Katie Fullerton (Coulterville, Ill./Coulterville) (Coulterville, Ill./Marissa) both scored 14 points and freshman forward Jessica Steinmetz (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
McKendree led the entire first half and shot 60-percent from beyond the arc in the first half to lead 40-28 at the break. Lindenwood outscored the Bearcats 13-3 over the opening five minutes of the second half to cut their deficit to 43-41. A layup by Casey Junge tied the game and a layup off of a Bearcat turnover gave the Lions their first lead of the game, 52-50, with 9:10 left to play. McKendree was 0-for-6 from beyond the arc in the first 11 minutes of the second half, but made four straight three-pointers to take a 67-56 lead with 5:45 remaining in the game. Lindenwood trailed 71-65 with just over two minutes left, but McKendree held on down the stretch to earn the 77-66 win.
Abby Schultenhenrich scored a team-high 15 points for Lindenwood and Christina Edwards contributed 14 in the loss. Sade Adams also posted 12 points and had five assists.
-McK-
