Box Score (TAHLEQUAH, Okla., Feb. 16)- The McKendree University women's basketball team fell on Thursday night at NCAA Division II No. 12 Northeastern State University 56-44.

The Bearcats fall to 7-19 overall and will travel to Edmond, Okla., to face University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Feb. 18th at noon.

Redshirt senior Ashley Agee (Moberly, Mo./Moberly) led all players with 17 points in the loss and was the lone McKendree player to score in double figures. Agee now trails former Bearcat Emily Best for sixth place on McKendree's all-time scoring list by one point with 1,357 career points.

The Bearcats hung with the RiverHawks in the first half and led 16-13 following a layup by freshman guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) with just over 10 minutes to play until the half. Two free throws by NSU's Cristy Nitz at the 5:23 mark put the Riverhawks in the lead 19-18, and a jumper on the ensuing possession by Nitz put the host in the lead 21-18 with 4:43 left. Two free throws by Ponce cut the deficit to 21-20, only for the RiverHawks to score five-straight to close out the half and take a 26-20 lead into the half.

McKendree struggled in the seocnd half and trailed by as many as 20 with under 10 minutes to play. McKendree was outrebounded 22-12 in the second half, including 9-1 on the offensive glass, that helped the RiverHawks outscore the Bearcats 24-10 in the contest.

Taylor Lewis led Northeastern State with 13 points, while Sarah Green and Cristy Nitz scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.