(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 12) -- The McKendree University women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season Saturday night with a 61-53 win over Lake Superior State University in Hillsdale, MI.

The win moves the Bearcats to 1-1 on the year. McKendree returns to the court Nov. 19 against Lindenwood University in its home opener.

Senior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) was one of three Bearcats to reach double figures netting a team high 12 points adding three rebounds, two assists, and one block. Freshman guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) and freshman forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional ) tallied 10 points each with sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) adding eight points. Senior forward Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) scored six points and recorded a team high seven boards for McKendree.

The Bearcats shot 50 percent from the field in the first quarter with Jensen scoring seven of her ten points, but the Lakers were on top 19-18 after ten minutes of action. Lake Superior State outscored McKendree 9-6 in the second quarter to take a four-point lead into halftime.

The Bearcats trimmed the lead to one through the third quarter as McKendree received solid bench play as it outscored the Lakers reserves 11-5. McKendree forced ten turnovers in the third quarter as they began to turn the tide.

The fourth quarter was all Bearcats as McKendree as Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) scored nine of her 12 points as the Bearcats earned 10 points in the paint outscoring the Lakers 18-9 to earn the win.