Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., January 9)- The McKendree University women's basketball hung with NCAA Division II No. 12 Northeastern State University on Monday night, but couldn't complete the upset and fell 64-56.

The Bearcats fell to 6-12 overall and will host Lindenwood University (Mo.) on Thursday, January 12th at 7 p.m.

Freshman guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) led McKendree with 18 points, while sophomore guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) contributed 12 points in the loss.

The RiverHawks jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, only for the Bearcats to cut the deficit to 7-5 following a jumper by redshirt junior forward Emily Woodland (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) and a three-pointer by Ponce on consecutive possessions. NSU countered and built its lead back out to seven, only for the Bearcats to come back and take a 18-16 lead with eight minutes left in the half. Both teams battled over the final eight minutes of the half and headed into the break knotted up 29-29.

McKendree struck first in the second half and took a 31-29 lead following a jumper by Woodland, but NSU steadily built a 43-36 lead with 14 minutes left to play. The Bearcats outscored the RiverHawks 11-3 over the next eight minutes and held a 47-46 lead after two free throws by Ponce with 6:30 remaining. McKendree kept the game close and trailed 54-52 with 3:15 remaining, but NSU was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to escape with the win and improve to 13-1 overall.

Megan Fraley led all players with 18 points for the RiverHawks, while Taylor Lewis and Cristy Nitz each scored 15 points.