Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 17)- Junior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) recorded her first career double-double, but a surge by visiting Lewis University in the second half was too much to overcome for McKendree in a 69-55 Great Lakes Valley Conference loss on Thursday night.

The Bearcats fall to 5-8 overall and 0-5 in the GLVC, and are also now 0-1 in the East Division. McKendree will host University of Wisconsin-Parkside for a conference matchup on Saturday, January 19 at 1 p.m.

Willis ended her night with 10 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and a season-high five assists while senior forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) had a team-high 14 points. Sophomore guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) had 13 points, while freshman guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) had 10 points. Senior guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill./Breese Central)' two steals increased her career total to 168 and moved her past Danna Gilbert into eighth place on McKendree's all-time steals list.

The Bearcats led 7-2 early in the contest and remained in the lead until a a jumper by Lewis' Sam Rinehart tied the game 10-10 at the 11:49 mark of the first half. The Flyers took a 15-10 lead , only for McKendree to cut the deficit to two, 15-13, on a three-pointer by Gilman on the next possession. The Bearcats kept the game close, but an 8-0 run by Lewis extended its lead to 31-21 with just over four minutes to play in the half. McKendree cut the deficit to single digits three times in the final few minutes of the half, and trailed 36-27 at the break.

The Bearcats cut the deficit down to four, 41-37, on a layup by Voss at the 17 minute mark of the second half, but a 10-0 run by the Flyers pushed their lead out to 51-37 with just over 9:30 remaining. Lewis stayed hot down the stretch, and was 14-of-28 from the field in the second half.

Labrenthia Murdock and Sam Rinehart led all players with 19 points each for the Flyers.