Box Score
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 8)- Sophomore guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) scored a career-high 22 points to lead McKendree University to a 80-73 win against Missouri Baptist University.

McKendree improved to 3-0 overall for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Bearcats will travel to Louisville, Ky., on November 11th and 12th to play in the United Electric Tip-Off Classic hosted by Bellarmine University and will play the host at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Willis also had a career-high seven assists to go along with her 22 points, while freshman guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville) also scored a career-high with 17 points. Junior forwards Courtney Harris (Wildwood, Mo./St. Joseph Academy) and Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) also contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the win.

It looked like it could be a long night for the Bearcats from the tip-off, as the visiting Spartans converted six of their 10 three-point attempts in the first half and held a 13 point lead, 31-18, with 7:46 remaining. Missouri Baptist appeared to have shot themselves out late in the first half, and McKendree took advantage by going on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 33-30 with just under five minutes to play. The Spartans held off the surge by the Bearcats over the final minutes of the half and held a slight 44-40 lead at the break.

Missouri Baptist tried to stay hot from beyond the arc after the break, but was only 1-for-5 from three over the first seven minutes of the second half. A layup by Ponce with 7:31 left gave McKendree its first lead of the half, 60-59, and the Bearcats went 8-of-11 from the free throw line over the final seven minutes of play to seal the win.

McKendree scored 20 points off 16 Missouri Baptist turnovers and also outscored the Spartans 28-12 in the paint in the contest.

Lauren Taylor matched Willis' 22 points to lead Missouri Baptist in scoring, while Janelle Hensold scored 16 points, including four three-pointers. Andrea Seabaugh and Haley Elders also each chipped in 12 points, while Elders also pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.