(Lebanon, Ill., Dec. 30) – The McKendree University women's basketball team returned to the hardwood Friday evening with its final non-conference game of the season posting a 78-66 victory over Lincoln University inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.

The win improves the Bearcats to 9-3 overall and remain 0-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree returns to league play Jan. 5 against Quincy University.

The Bearcats were led by freshman Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) who tallied a career high 17 points on 6-12 shooting, including a 4-5 mark from three point range. Senior guard Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) finished second on the team after recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) and freshman guard Andranae Wash (St. Louis, MO/Cardinal Ritter College Prep) each reached double figures recording 11 and 10 points respectively with Pusheck adding seven rebounds.

Senior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) entered the first quarter with 4:55 remaining and paced the Bearcats with seven of her nine points in the first quarter on 3-3 shooting. McGinnis, Heberg, and Wash added four points apiece to give McKendree a 20-17 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

Heberg picked up the pace in the second quarter as she opened the quarter with her first of two three pointers as she paced the Bearcats with eight points in the frame. Emily and Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) hit recorded back to back baskets for McKendree to push the Bearcat lead to 27-20 with 7:05 remaining. Sophomore Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) hauled in a rebound and followed by sinking a jumper to extend the lead to 31-22 before 8-2 run from the Tigers pulled Lincoln within three points at the 3:04 mark. Heberg hit her second three of the quarter with just 57 seconds remaining to put McKendree on top 40-34 before senior guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) followed suit with a three pointer of her own with 16 seconds to go in the half as McKendree led 43-37 heading into intermission.

Wash led the Bearcats in the third quarter with six points including a perfect 4-4 showing from the charity stripe. Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) and Morton notched the first two buckets of the second half to move the lead to nine. The Tigers fought back with four straight including a pair of free throw attempts before trimming the lead to just one point at 48-47 with 4:05 remaining. McKendree countered with an 8-0 run capped off on a free throw from McGinnis at the 8:06 mark. Lincoln got back into the thick of it by closing the quarter on a 5-1 run to head into the final 10 minutes trailing by five.

The Bearcats came out firing in the fourth quarter scoring nine points in the first three minutes highlighted by a trey from Alexander. McKendree pushed the lead to 12 after a pair of free throw attempts from Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) with just over four minutes to go. The Tigers battled back as a three point field goal cut the lead to four points with just under two minutes remaining, but the Bearcats proved to be too much as they closed the game on an 8-0 run to earn the win.