Box Score (SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 22)- A three-pointer from sophomore guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) at the buzzer in overtime propeled the McKendree University women's basketball team to a 77-74 win over Hillsdale College at the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover Classic hosted by University of Illinois-Springfield.

The Bearcats improve to 2-1 overall and will play Lake Superior State University on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m., in Springfield.

Junior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) had a season-high 23 points, while Gilman also posted a seson-high with 17 points.  also Freshman forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) also scored a career-high 10 points to round out McKendree's double-digit scoring. Senior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) also dished out a season-high seven assists.

Both teams battled back and forth for position in the first half, with the lead changing eight times and McKendree holding the largest lead, 32-26, at the 4:46 mark.

Hillsdale held the advantage early and took a 12-7 lead following a three-pointer by Marissa DeMott at the 17:24 mark. The Bearcats answered with a three of their own by Ponce to cut the deficit to two, and took a 22-20 lead with just under 10 minutes to play on a three-pointer by freshman guard Abby Smith (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville).

A layup by Willis gave McKendree the largest lead of the half with 4:46 left until the break, but the Chargers kept it close and took a 35-34 lead into the half.

Hillsdale held onto its lead for almost the entire second half, and held its largest lead, 65-59, with 3:08 remaining in regulation. A layup by Pusheck gave McKendree its first lead of the second half, 68-67, with 38-seconds left, and had a three-point lead following two free throws by junior forward Haeley Kresiel with 19-seconds left, but a three-pointer by DeMott with five seconds left tied the game, 70-70, and sent the game to overtime.

The Chargers scored the first three points of overtime, but a layup by freshman forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) cut the deficit to 73-72 with 2:06 to play. A free throw by Hillsdale extended its lead to 74-72, but Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) was fouled and made both her free throws to tie the game, 74-74, with 1:22 remaining.

Gilman pulled down the rebound off a missed three-point attempt by Hillsdale with 21-seconds left and the Bearcats called a timeout with 12 seconds left. Ponce took the inbound pass and found Gilman beyond the arc for the game-winner as time expired.

Megan Fogt led all players with 29 points and 27 rebounds for Hillsdale, while Brooke Borowski and DeMott scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.


-McK-