Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 5)- The McKendree University women's basketball team used a big second half to defeat Missouri Baptist University, 82-58, on Wednesday night to close out its first semester schedule with a win.

The Bearcats improved to 5-3 overall and will be off until Thursday, January 5 when they host their first Great Lakes Valley Conference game against University of Illinois at Springfield at 5:30 p.m.

Sophomore guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) led all players with 23 points, while senior forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) recorded her third double-double of the season with 13 points a team-high 11 rebounds, and a career-high five blocks. Junior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) had 12 points and freshman forward Kara Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) scored a career-high 10 points to round out McKendree's double-digit scoring.

A jumper by senior guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) at the 8:02 mark gave the Bearcats their largest lead of the first half, 30-18, but the Spartans outscored McKendree, 16-4, over the remainder of the half to tie the game, 34-34, at the break.

Missouri Baptist took the lead 39-38 on a three-pointer by Kristyne Smith at the 18:29 mark, but Ponce answered with a three-pointer of her own on the next possession to regain the lead 41-39.

McKendree flustered the Spartans in the second half, holding the opponent to a 9-of-40 (.225) effort from the field in the second half, while flourishing on their own end of the floor with 48 second half points on 18-of-31 shooting from the field.

The Bearcats outscored Missouri Baptist, 26-10, in the paint and produced 21 points off of Spartan turnovers in the final half of play.

Missouri Baptist had three players in double-figures, led by Iesha McDaniels 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Smith and Lauren Taylor had 13 and 12 points, respectively.