(LEBANON, Ill., January 8)- The McKendree University women's basketball team got back on the winning track Saturday and earned their first American Midwest Conference win of the season over Hannibal-LaGrange University, 50-39.

McKendree improved to 5-10 overall and 1-1 in the AMC with the win and will host Columbia College (Mo.) on Thursday, January 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Senior guard Katie Fullerton (Coulterville, Ill., Coulterville) recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill., Jerseyville) pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds for the Bearcats.

Sophomore guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill., Breese Central) put McKendree on top early with a layup and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions, and the Bearcats found themselves leading 10-2 with 15 minutes remaining in the first half. The Trojans battled back and a layup by Jackee Thompson at the 10:38 mark brought the visitors within four, 12-8, before McKendree pushed its lead back to double digits on a jumper by freshman guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo., Parkway South). The Bearcats lead hovered around 10 for the remainder of the first half and held a 26-16 advantage at the half.

McKendree led by as much as 16 and was never in danger in the second half of play.

Rebecca Deridder led the Trojans with 12 points, while Nicole Villalobos had eight points and 15 rebounds.