(Lebanon, Ill., Dec. 10) – The McKendree University women's basketball team came out on top in non-conference action Saturday night by a score of 67-62 over Harris-Stowe State University inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.

The Bearcats move to 6-3 overall and remain 0-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree returns to the floor Dec. 17 with another non-conference match up against Robert Morris University-Peoria.

The Bearcats were paced by freshman guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) who poured in a career high 15 points that included a 13-15 line from the charity stripe. Senior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) added 13 points to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals. Freshman guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) compiled 11 points going 3-5 from beyond the arc, and senior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career high 16 rebounds.

Emily Puscheck got things started on the right foot for McKendree scoring six of her 10 points in the first quarter as the Bearcats took advantage of the Hornets foul trouble with Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) converting all four of her free throw attempts and Hart going 4-5 from the line. Harris-Stowe was able to hang tough scoring seven points off of six McKendree turnovers and trailed by just one point at 16-15 at the end of the first quarter.

The Hornets hit back to back jumpers to take a 21-19 with 5:28 remaining in the second quarter. The Bearcats responded with an 11-2 run to reclaim the lead at 30-24 with four points coming from the left hand of sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South). Harris-Stowe closed the gap to two points with a pair of layups, but the Bearcats held on to take a 30-28 lead into the half.

The teams continued to jockey for position in the third quarter with McKendree opening the half on a 6-0 run that included a pair of layups from Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee). Harris-Stowe rallied to tie the game at 36 all with 6:16 remaining before the team traded baskets and remaining knotted at 40-40. Hart hit a pair of free throws to spark a 4-0 run for the Bearcats as McKendree outscored the Hornets 10-6 in the last three minutes of the third quarter to take a four-point lead heading into the fourth.

Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) got the scoring started in the fourth with a jumper just 31 seconds into the final frame. McKendree extended its lead to 10 points at 60-50 as Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) and freshman guard Andranae Wash (St. Louis, MO/Cardinal Ritter College Prep) each hit a pair of shots. Harris-Stowe clawed back with a 10-3 run to trim the Bearcats lead to just three points with 1:18 remaining, but McKendree was able to hit all four of its free throw attempts in the final minute to close out the Hornets by five.