Box Score (OWENSBORO, Ky., Jan. 31)- Freshman guard Ashley Klass (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North)' chance at a game-tying three-pointer was blocked at the final buzzer and the McKendree University women's basketball team fell 76-73 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

The Bearcats fall to 6-12 overall and 1-9 in the GLVC with the loss, and will host University of Southern Indiana on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m.

Sophomore guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) led all players with 21 points, while junior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) had 17 points for McKendree in the loss.

The Bearcats had a sluggish start and had no answer for the Panther's 17-of-28 (.607) effort from the field in the first half. A layup by senior forward Shelby Woelfel (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) cut the deficit to 11-9 at the 15:39 mark, but Kentucky Wesleyan answered with six-straight points to jump out to a 17-9 lead with just over 13 minutes to play in the half. The Panthers extended their lead to 37-20 with 4:29 remaining until the break, but the Bearcats cut the deficit to 42-28 at the half.

Kentucky Wesleyan extended its lead to 59-37 with 14:12 left to play, but McKendree found its stride and outscored the Panthers 20-2 over the next eight minutes to trail 61-57 with 6:49 left to play. The Bearcats kept the game within two possessions for the remainder of the game, but had its chance to tie at the buzzer blocked.

Shelbi Tyra led the Panthers with 16 points, while Lauren Goffinet and Bianca Barton had 14 and 13 points.