(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 19)—The McKendree University women's basketball team tipped off the home portion of its 2016-17 schedule Saturday afternoon with a 66-57 victory over Lindenwood University at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
Seven of the 10 players who scored for the Bearcats posted between six and 10 points in the balanced offensive effort. Seniors Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity), Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) and Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) each collected 10 points as McKendree improved to 2-1 on the season. The Bearcats will head to Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday night for a non-conference match-up against Trevecca Nazarene University. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
 
McGinnis stood out on both ends of the floor for McKendree as she shared team-high honors with seven rebounds and led the way with six assists and four steals. Freshman forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional ) matched McGinnis with seven rebounds. Freshman guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) came off the bench to help out with eight points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Bearcats.
 
Saturday's win also helped McKendree snap a three-game losing streak against Lindenwood. The Bearcats' last victory over the Lions came back in the 2012-13 season, when McKendree recorded an 86-71 triumph at the Statham Center.
 
Lindenwood grabbed the early lead before McKendree used a run of six straight points to take the lead for good in the first quarter. Freshman forward Shayli Florine (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) scored on a lay-up at the 5:47 mark of the period to put the Bearcats in front at 4-3. Jumpers by freshman guard Andranae Wash (St. Louis, MO/Cardinal Ritter College Prep) and Hart capped the burst that gave McKendree an 8-3 advantage with 3:31 left in the first quarter. The Bearcats' bench was a big factor in the first quarter as they outscored the entire Lions' team in the first 10 minutes of play on the way to a 16-7 advantage.
 
McKendree stretched its lead to as many as 14 points in the second period before Lindenwood (1-2) fought back and cut the deficit to 29-23 with just over three minutes left in the half. The Bearcats then held the Lions without a field goal the remainder of the period, and used a lay-up by sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) just before the buzzer to take a 38-24 lead into the locker room.
 
Both teams shot well from the floor in the third quarter as McKendree connected on 55.6 percent of its tries (5-of-9) while Lindenwood was just a step better at 60 percent (6-of-10). The Bearcats were able to maintain their double-digit advantage, however, and took a 50-39 lead into the final period. McKendree took its largest lead of the afternoon at 60-43 with 3:56 remaining when Hart hit a free throw to cap a 9-0 run for the Bearcats.
 
Lindenwood made one final run in the contest, holding McKendree without a field goal over the final 4:39 of play. The Lions put together a 13-1 run to slash the deficit to 61-56 with just under a minute to play. McGinnis ended the dry spell for the Bearcats as she knocked down a pair of free throws with 50 seconds on the clock to extend the lead back to 63-56. Hart added another foul shot and Pusheck sealed the win by hitting two more shots from the stripe with 24.7 seconds left.
 
For the game, the McKendree bench outscored the Lindenwood reserves by a margin of 39-9. The Bearcats also held a 38-30 edge in rebounding.
 
Kallie Bildner registered game-high totals of 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead Lindenwood. Alex Haley chipped in with 12 points, while Lindsey Medlen dished out a team-best six assists for the Lions.