(OAKLAND CITY, Ind., Jan. 2)- The McKendree University women's basketball team started off 2016 with a 67-46 non-conference win at Oakland City University.

Under the direction of new head coach Kari Kerkhoff, the Bearcats have won back-to-back games to improve to 6-7 overall and are off to their best start since the 2013-14 season. McKendree has won five of its last six games and will travel to Kirksville, Mo., on Thursday, Jan. 7 to play Truman State University in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest at 5:30 p.m.

Junior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) led all players with 14 points and 11 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. Junior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) added 10 points in the win.

The Bearcats controlled the game from the opening tip and never trailed in the contest. McKendree used a 7-0 run early in the first quarter to build an 11-2 lead with 4:13 left in the first period, and held the Lady Oaks to only three points in the opening quarter to lead 17-3.

The Bearcats held Oakland City to single digits until midway through the second quarter, but held on to its double-digit lead for the entrie period to lead 33-16 at the half.

McKendree extended its lead out to 20, 38-18, on a free throw by senior guard Kacey Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) at the 8:04 mark of the third quarter, and the Bearcats finished out the game to win 67-46.