(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Nov. 28)—The McKendree University women's basketball team cut a 14-point deficit down to just four points in the final minute of play at Lindenwood University, but the host Lions held on for a 77-68 win Tuesday night in St. Charles, Mo.
 
A 7-0 run helped the Bearcats pull within 71-67 with 42.1 seconds on the clock, but Lindenwood was able to hit six free throws in the closing seconds to hold off the late charge by McKendree. The Bearcats move to 1-3 on the year and will tip off their Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule Saturday afternoon on the road at Drury University. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at the O'Reilly Events Center in Springfield, Mo.
 
Sophomore guard Madison Hart led a balanced attack for McKendree with 14 points, while sophomore guard Jordan Heberg chipped in with 13 points. Junior forward Jordan Morton came off the bench to post 11 points for the Bearcats as Morton and Hart led the team in rebounding with eight apiece.
 
Lindenwood (6-0) led for the balance of the contest and rode the strength of a 28-point second quarter to build a 41-30 lead at the half. McKendree managed to stay within striking distance during the third quarter before the Lions moved out to their largest lead of the night, 66-52, thanks to a lay-up from Callie Bildner with 6:21 on the clock.
 
McKendree began to chip away at the deficit, starting with a short jumper from Morton. A pair of free throws from Hart at the 1:37 mark started the Bearcats' 7-0 burst, which was followed by a basket and free throw from Heberg and two more foul shots from Morton at the 42.1-second mark to slash the Lindenwood lead to just four points.
 
The Bearcats needed to foul Lindenwood four times to get the Lions to the free throw line for the bonus, and Bildner made just one of two free throws with 37.6 seconds remaining to stretch the margin back to five points. After a McKendree turnover, the Lions hit two more attempts from the line for a three-possession advantage. The Bearcats could get no closer as Lindenwood went 3-of-4 from the stripe in the last 22 seconds to preserve the win.
 
Bildner had a double-double for Lindenwood, posting game-high totals of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Lindsay Medlin added 13 points and five assists for the Lions.