Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 19)- The McKendree University women's basketball team played visting University of Wisconsin-Parkside tough on Saturday afternoon, but fell 62-54 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest.

The Bearcats fall to 5-9 overall and 0-6 in the GLVC, while also falling to 0-2 in the East Division. McKendree will host Bellarmine University, its conference travel partner, on Monday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Junior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) led the Bearcats with 15 points, while sophomore guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) had a team-high six assists.

McKendree trailed 9-2 at the 12:16 mark of the first half, but Willis scored seven points over the next three minutes to help the Bearcats to a 12-9 lead with 9:16 left in the half.

With 1:30 remaining in the first half, McKendree held its largest lead, 24-17, but the Rangers scored the last six points of the half to cut their deficit to 24-23 at the half.

A layup by senior guard Leann Voss (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) extended the Bearcat' lead to 26-23 to start the second half, but UW-Parkside used a 9-0 run to take a 32-26 lead with 16:55 left to play.

McKendree cut its deficit to 50-48 on a jumper by Ponce with 5:03 remaining, but the Bearcats were outscored 12-6 down the strecth and fell 62-54.

Jenna Endisch led the Rangers with 16 points, while Gaby Bronson and Danielle Slivka scored 14 and 11 points, respectively.