VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 30)- The McKendree University women's basketball team battled with No. 9 Lewis University on Saturday, but came up short in a 51-46 loss.

The Bearcats fall to 10-11 overall and 5-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and will travel to St. Louis, Mo., on Thursday, Feb. 4 to play University of Missouri-St. Louis at 5:30 p.m.

Senior guard Kacey Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) led McKendree with 11 points, while junior guard/forward Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) had eight points and six rebounds.

The Bearcats scored the first six points of the game and remained in the lead, 9-8, with 3:04 left in the first quarter, but the Flyers took a 10-9 lead with 1:39 left in the quarter. Lewis took a 12-9 lead shortly into the second quarter, but a a three-pointer by senior guard Ashley Klass (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North) tied the game, 12-12, with eight left to play until the half. The Flyers led by as many as five, 21-16, but McKendree rallied and cut the score to 22-20 at the half.

Johnson tied the game with a jumper coming out of the half, and a three-pointer by freshman guard/forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) on the next possession gave the Bearcats a 25-22 lead. The lead changed hands nine times in the third quarter, but a three-pointer by junior guard/forward Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) put McKendree in front, 39-38, heading into the last quarter of play. The Bearcats held onto their lead until Lewis tied the game and took the lead on a pair of free throws with 3:42 left in the game. The Flyers extended their lead out to 47-43, only for McKendree to cut the deficit to 47-46 on a jumper by Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) with 1:30 left. Lewis would pull away down the stretch and came out with the 51-46 win.

Jessica Kelliher led all players with 19 points and nine rebounds for the Flyers.