(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 24)—The McKendree University women's basketball team kicked off the start of a ten-game home stand Saturday afternoon inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center with a 77-56 win over the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.  

The win moves the Bearcats to 4-1 overall on the season. McKendree returns to court Thursday evening as they open conference play at 5:30 p.m. with a showdown against the University of Southern Indiana in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.

The Bearcats were paced offensively by senior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) who converted eight of her ten field goals along with three of her five free throws to total 19 points off the bench along with five assists, three boards, one steal, and one block. Freshman forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional ) tallied 15 points and finished just shy of a double-double with eight rebounds. Senior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) chipped in 12 points and snagged four rebounds as the only other Bearcat to reach double figures.

Senior guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) tallied nine points and dished a game high seven assists while senior guard Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) hauled down a game high eight rebounds including three on the offensive glass to pair with four points.

McKendree featured eight players with at least one assists as the Bearcats shared the rock early on assisting on each of the first 22 field goals and 27 of 30 for the game. McKendree out rebounded Puerto-Rico Mayaguez 52-16 including 13 offensive boards.

The Bulldogs gave the Bearcats an early scare as they opened the game on a 9-0 run before Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) got McKendree on the board with a pair of free throws just over three minutes into the game. The Bearcats capitalized on 10 offensive turnovers in the first quarter to get back into the game as the teams battled to 18-18 after McKendree's bench outscored Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 16-0 in the first ten minutes of action.

The Bulldogs led by five with 7:49 remaining in the second frame before a layup from sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) and a trey from Alexander brought the Bearcats back to even at 25 all. McKendree continued on a 11-0 run to go ahead 31-25 after baskets from Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee), freshman guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North), and Jensen. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez battled back as they outscored the Bearcats 12-6 in the paint in the second quarter to cut the lead to 38-34 heading into the half.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with a three pointer to cut the lead to just one, but McKendree responded with a 12-0 run over the next four minutes of action to take control of the game. The Bearcats bench went to work once again outscoring Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 12-2 as McKendree used a 41-12 advantage in bench scoring for the game as the Bearcats led 62-47 heading into the fourth quarter.

McKendree held the Bulldogs to just nine points in the final 10 minutes as the Bearcats cruised to their fourth consecutive win.