Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 7)- The McKendree University women's basketball team had four score in double-digits on Saturday to win its Great Lakes Valley Conference, 71-64, over University of Illinois-Springfield.

The Bearcats improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the GLVC with the win and will host Missouri Baptist University on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.

Junior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) led all players with 20 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 effort from the free throw line, for McKendree. Sophomore guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) had 15 points, while senior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) and junior forward Haeley Kreisel (Warsaw, Mo./Warsaw) had 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bearcats led 11-4 at the 16:42 mark of the first half, but the Prairie Stars battled back and took a 21-20 lead with 7:39 left in the opening period. McKendree responded with a 14-3 run over the next six minutes, capped by a jumper by Ponce, to take its first double-digit lead of the game 34-24. Illinois-Springfield hit a jumper on the final possession of the half and the Bearcats went into the break leading 34-26.

Illinois-Springfield cut the McKendree lead to 41-39 with just over 15 minutes to play in the second half, but the Bearcats didn't falter and held onto its lead the entire second half.

The Prairie Stars outrebounded McKendree, 43-27, in the contest, but the Bearcats were 21-of-25 from the charity stripe, including a 15-of-16 effort in the second half. McKendree had a season-low seven turnovers in the game and scored 19 points off Illinois-Springfield turnovers.

Megan Bergerud led the Prairie Stars with 16 points, while Elizabeth Kelly posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.