(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 13)- The McKendree University women's basketball team used a big second half on Friday to earn a 50-41 season-opening win over Lake Superior State University.

The Bearcats improve to 1-0 and will host Hillsdale College on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m.

Senior guard Kelsee Ennis (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) led all players with a career-high 14 points, while junior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) scored 10 points. Senior guard Kacey Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) added a career-high nine points and six rebounds in the win.

The first half was played fairly even with the game being tied, 11-11, after the first quarter, and the Lakers leading 23-22 at the break. The Bearcats stepped up the intensity in the second half and used a 12-0 run during the latter half of the third quarter to take a 36-28 lead with two minutes to go in the period, and led 36-30 with one quarter to play. McKendree took advantage of the free throw line in the final period and went 7-for-8 at the line to hold onto the lead and earn the win.

The Bearcats held Lake Superior to 18.7-percent shooting in the second half, while shooting 40-percent from the field themselves. McKendree also went 9-for-11 from the free throw line over the final two quarters of play. The Bearcats took advantage of Laker mistakes in the game and scored 17 points off turnovers. McKendree also outscored Lake Superior, 22-12, in the paint in the contest.