(LIBERTY, Mo., Feb. 13)- The McKendree University women's basketball team was unable to find its offensive rhythm in the second half on Thursday in a 71-64 at William Jewell College.

The Bearcats fall to 7-14 overall and 2-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with the loss, and will travel to Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday for a 1 p.m, contest at Rockhurst University.

Senior guard Brittany Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway South) led McKendree with 15 points and 10 rebounds to record a double-double for the second-straight game. Freshman forward Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) added 13 points, and junior guard Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) and sophomore guard Liz Gilman (St. Louis, Mo./Principia) each had 10 points for the Bearcats.

McKendree led 35-34 at the half, but only shot 32.1-percent from the field and 9-of-16 from the free throw line in the second half of the loss.

The host Cardinals held the lead for the first six minutes of the game, until a layup by Willis gave the Bearcats their first lead of the game, 16-15, at the 13:52 mark of the first half. McKendree slowly extended its lead to 32-23, its largest of the game, with 3:50 remaining in the opening half.

The Bearcats held on to its narrow lead until a set of William Jewell free throws put the hosts in front, 43-42, with 12:13 remaining in the game. A three-pointer by Alexander brought McKendree within two, 63-61, with 1:37 left, but the Cardinals went 6-of-7 from the free throw line down the stretch to edge the Bearcats.

Chelsea Meeks led all players with 23 points for William Jewell.