(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Feb. 4)- The McKendree University women's basketball team trailed by two heading into the fourth quarter, but were unable to overcome the deficit to lose 56-40 on Thursday.

The Bearcats fall to 10-12 overall and 5-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and will travel back to St. Louis, Mo., on Saturday to play Maryville University at 1 p.m.

Senior guard Kelsee Ennis (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) led McKendree with nine points, while junior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) and senior guard Ashley Klass (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North) both added six points in the loss.

The Bearcats tied the game, 5-5, on a three-pointer by Klass early in the first quarter and took a five point lead, 15-10, following a three-pointer by junior guard/forward Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) with 3:41 left. The Tritons battled back and tied the game with 0:32 seconds left in the period, and ended the quarter with a 21-19 lead. McKendree kept in close in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to five three ties, but went into the locker room trailing 31-25 at the half.

Another three-pointer by Klass brought the Bearcats to within one, 33-32, two minutes into the third quarter, but UMSL pushed its lead back out to five, 37-32, with 4:23 left in the period. McKendree scored five-straight points at the free throw line to tie the game, 37-37, and trailed 39-37 heading into the final quarter of play, but couldn't battle back in the loss.

Sydney Bloch led all players with 11 points for the Tritons.