Box Score (FT. SMITH, Ark., Nov. 24)- McKendree University head women's basketball coach Melissa Ringhausen earned her 300th career win at McKendree University on Saturday afternoon following the Bearcats 66-55 win over Huston-Tillotson University at the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith Thanksgiving Classic.

The Bearcats improved to 3-2 overall and will host Lindenwood University on Wednesday, November 28th at 7 p.m.

Ringhausen is in her 16th season as head women's basketball coach at McKendree and has a career record of 300-198 following the victory. She is also the winningest coach in program history.

McKendree had four players score in double-figures for the second consecutive game and were led by sophomore guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville)'s 22 points. Ponce also eclipsed the 500 point mark in her collegiate career in the win. Senior forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) recorded her second-straight double-double with 12 points and a team-high 14 rebounds, while junior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) and freshman guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) each had 10 points.

Senior guard/forward Leann Voss (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) also pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds and a team-high three steals.

The Bearcats jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead, but the Rams outscored McKendree 18-3 over the next five minutes to take a 22-12 lead with 12:07 left in the first half.

A three-pointer and a jumper by Ponce on back-to-back possessions brought the Bearcats within five, 22-17, and later tied the game, 28-28, on a free throw by freshman guard Ashley Klass (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North) with 1:47 left in the half. Huston-Tillotson held on though, and led 30-29 at the half.

The Rams held McKendree to only one field goal in the opening 3:30 of the second half and jumped out to a 36-31 lead.

A transition layup by Willis followed by another three-pointer by Ponce put the Bearcats in front, 42-39, with 12:57 left and the lead would be all McKendree needed down the stretch. The Bearcats pushed its lead out to as many as 16, 62-46, with just under three minutes to play and held on to win 66-55.

McKendree shot 91.3-percent (21-23) from the free throw line in the contest, its highest total since shooting 80.8-percent (21-26) on February 24, 2012 against University of Sioux Falls.

Danielle Franklin led Huston-Tillotson University with 16 points.