Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 14)- The McKendree University women's basketball team led by as many as 20 points in the second half on Saturday in a 72-58 women's basketball win over Missouri Baptist University.

The Bearcats improve to 5-2 overall with the win and will travel to Owensboro, Ky., on Saturday, Dec. 21-22 to compete at the Fairfield Inn Christman Classic hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan Classic. McKendree will play Davis & Elkins College on Saturday at 4 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m., contest on Sunday against Kentucky Wesleyan.

Sophomore forward Kara Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) and junior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) were the only Bearcat players in double-figures with both scoring 20 points. Johnson's total was a career-high.

McKendree took command early in the contests and took a 10-3 lead at the 15:49 mark of the first half on a three-pointer by freshman guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North). The Spartans went on to rattle off six-straight points to cut the Bearcats lead to 10-9, but were unable to ever gain the lead. McKendree led by no more than six in the remainder fo the half and led 28-25 at the half.

The Bearcats started the second half with a hot hand, outscoring Missouri Baptist 16-4 over the first five minutes of the second half to jump out to a 44-29 lead. A jumper by Johnson at the 11:52 mark gave McKendree its largest lead of the night, 53-33, but the Spartans wouldn't go away and cut their deficit to 57-47 with 7:22 remaining.

Missouri Baptist was unable to cut the Bearcat lead to single-digits down the stretch, and McKendree held on to earn the 72-58 win.

Kristyne Smyth led Missouri Baptist with 16 points in the loss.