Box Score (LEBANON, Ill, Nov. 30)- McKendree University freshman forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) led all players with a career-high 27 points, but a big second half by visiting Kentucky Wesleyan College was too much to overcome for McKendree University on Saturday in a 88-68 women's basketball loss.

The Bearcats fall to 3-2 overall and will open up Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Saturday, December 7 when they host University of Illinois-Springfield at 7 p.m.

Puscheck's 27 points were the best scoring effort by a McKendree player this season, surpassing junior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville)'s 24 points scored aganst Hillsdale College on Nov. 22. Ponce scored 16 points in the loss, while sophomore guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) had 10 points for the Bearcats.

The Panthers scored the first six points of the game and held their largest lead of the first half, 16-4, at the 14:49 mark of the first half. McKendree answered with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 16-14 with 12:30 remaining in the opening half.

The Bearcats tied the game, 19-19, on a layup by freshman guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) with 11:10 left in the half, but couldn't take the lead in the opening half. Kentucky Wesleyan extended its lead back out to double-digits, 43-32 with 1:29 left and McKendree trailed 45-38 at the half.

McKendree got into some foul trouble early in the second half and the Panthers took advantage by going 13-of-21 from the free throw line in the second half to hold on to their lead. Kentucky Wesleyan steadily extended its lead to double-digits, 56-45, with 15:33 left in the half and McKendree was unable to chip away at the deficit in the reaminder fo the game to fall 88-68.

Karly Rhoads led Kentucky Wesleyan with 19 points in the win.