Box Score (SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 23)- The McKendree University women's basketball team used a big second half to earn a 56-47 win over Lake Superior State University On Saturday.

The Bearcats improved to 3-1 overall and will host their home opener against Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

Sophomore forward Kara Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) led all players with a career-high 13 points and eight rebounds for McKendree, while senior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) had 12 points. Junior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) and sophomore guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) also each had 11 points in the win.

McKendree had a slow start and faced it largest deficit, 15-2, at the 10:27 mark of the first half. The Bearcats settled in from that point and rallied and cut the deficit to 21-17 at the 4:01 mark following a three-point play by Gilman. Both teams traded buckets in the remainder of the half and McKendree trailed 25-19 at the break.

The Bearcats kept it close in the opening minute of the half and took its first lead of the game, 32-31, at the 12:33 mark on a layup by Johnson. The Lakers regained and held onto its lead until a layup by Willis put the Bearcats in front 43-42 with 4:10 left in the game. Willis' layup started a 9-0 run by McKendree that extended its lead to 52-42 with 36-seconds left, and the Bearcats held on to earn the 56-47 win.

Kandace Crittendon led Lake Superior State with 13 points in the loss.