(Lebanon, Ill., Jan. 28) --The McKendree University women's basketball team fell short on the road Saturday afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game versus the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Bearcats dropped the game by a score of 53-51.

McKendree moves to .500 with the loss, at 10-10 overall and dips to 1-9 in the GLVC this season.

Senior forward Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) led the Bearcats with 12 points to go with three rebounds and two steals. Senior guard Amber Alexander (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) scored seven points, while sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) and freshman guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) added six points each. Senior guard Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) hauled in a game high 13 rebounds along with three assists and two steals, scoring two points.

Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) converted four free throw attempts to open the scoring for McKendree before a trey from Alexander gave the Bearcats a 9-5 lead just under three minutes into the game. The Rangers battled back to take a 12-9 lead with a 7-0 run before Heberg splashed from deep to knot the game at the 4:06 mark. Senior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) followed with the next five points for Mckendree to put the Bearcats in front 17-14 before closing the quarter on a 4-1 run to take a 21-15 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

After a jumper from Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) to give McKendree a 23-15 lead, Wisconsin-Parkside piled up a quick 4-0 run to cut the lead to four. Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) nailed another jumper followed by a basket from Morton to regain control at 27-19. The teams continued to trade runs as the Rangers scored the next six points to pull within a pair, but a jumper from freshman forward Shayli Florine (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) closed the scoring in the first half as McKendree took a 32-28 lead into intermission.

The Rangers hit from deep to trim the lead to one to open the second half. The Bearcats followed five straight points to go up 37-31 after a layup from Alexander. Wisconsin-Parkside responded with a 9-2 run to capture its first lead since the opening minutes at 40-39, but the Bearcats closed the quarter on a 5-0 run with baskets from Morton and McGinnis to take a four point lead heading into the final frame.

Wisconsin-Parkside slashed the lead to one point in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter before going on top 48-47 with 4:52 to remaining. A layup from freshman Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional ) put the Bearcats back in front at 49-48 before the teams traded points as a layup from Ellie Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) moved McKendree ahead 51-50. The Rangers converted a three to take a two point lead with 2:21 to play, and the Bearcats were unable to answer down the stretch, falling by the same margin.