(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 21)--The McKendree University women's basketball team earned its first Great Lakes Valley Conference win of the season Saturday afternoon inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center against Saint Joseph's College. The Bearcats won by a score of 63-54.

The win improves McKendree to 10-8 overall and 1-7 in the GLVC this season. The Bearcats return to action Jan. 26 on the road against Lewis University at 5:30 p.m.

Freshman guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) matched a career high with 17 points on 7-15 shooting including a 3-6 clip from long range. Senior guard Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) tallied a double-double with 10 points while matching a career high with 12 rebounds to go with two assists, two steals, and one block. Senior guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) also reached double figures with 13 points, adding a team high five assists and one steal. Senior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) added seven points, six boards, and one block for McKendree.

Alexander led the Bearcats in the opening quarter scoring eight of McKendree's 13 points after opening the scoring with a layup just 16 seconds into the game before following up with a trey to give the Bearcats a 5-3 lead. The Pumas countered with an 8-2 run to go ahead 11-7, but McKendree was able to rally to tie the game at 13 with a layup as time expired in the first.

Heberg took over in the second quarter scoring 11 points after connecting on 3-4 attempts from beyond the arc. Hebergs hit on back to back attempts to give the Bearcats a 21-16 lead with 8:23 remaining in the half. Saint Jospeh's fought back with five straight points to tie the game at 21 before the teams exchanged baskets to move the score to 23-23. A jumper from Alexander at the 4:19 kicked off a 12-0 run that closed the first half for the Bearcats capped off on another three from Heberg with 13 seconds to go as McKendree took a 35-23 lead into the half after outscoring the Pumas 22-10 in the second.

A layup from Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) extended the run to 14 points before a basket from Saint Joseph's finally ended the Bearcat spree. Heberg and McGinnis converted a pair of shots to give McKendree a 41-25 lead, but the Pumas were able to string together an 8-0 run to trim the lead to single digits. A trey from Alexander pushed the lead back to 11 with 5:06 to go, but Saint Joseph's continued to claw back as the Pumas slashed the lead to seven points heading into the final 10 minutes of action.

Freshman guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) netted a layup to give McKendree a nine-point lead just over a minute into the fourth. The Pumas sank a pair of free throws to move the deficit back to seven before a layup from sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) reset the Bearcat lead. A three-point conversion from Saint Joseph's brought the lead to six for McKendree. Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) connected on a layup to move the lead to 58-50 with 3:11 to play as McKendree continued to keep the Pumas at an arm's length. Saint Joseph's twice cut the lead back to six over the final three minutes, but were not able to find an answer for the Bearcats as McKendree pulled out a nine point win.