(Lebanon, IL. Feb. 16) – The McKendree University women's basketball team squared off with Great Lakes Valley Conference foe No. 23 Bellarmine University Thursday evening in Louisville, KY. The Bearcats fell by a score of 80-69.

The loss sinks McKendree to 10-16 overall and 1-15 in the GLVC this season. The Bearcats finish out the weekend Saturday in Evansville, IN against the No. 24 ranked Screaming Eagles of the University of Southern Indiana.

Freshman guard led the charge for McKendree posting 13 points on 3-5 shooting and was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line, adding a pair of blocks and one steal. Freshman forward Shayli Florine (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) added 13 points of her own after going 6-9 from the field. Senior forward Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) also reached double figures for the Bearcats with 10 points and four rebounds. Freshman guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) finished with nine points and sophomore forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) chipped in six points.

The Knights jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the first five minutes of action before the Bearcats came back with a 6-0 run thanks to a pair of free throws and a jumper from Hart to tie the game at 8. The Bearcats would then take the lead after Florine sank a layup as part of a three point play to put McKendree on top 11-9 after converting the three point play. Bellarmine countered with the final six points of the quarter to take a 15-11 lead after the first ten minutes of action.

The Knights rolled in the second quarter using a 12-6 run to open the frame and move ahead 26-17. Hart hit from long range to bring the Bearcats within six at 26-20 before another run from the Knights of 19-5 gave Bellarmine a comfortable lead heading into the half.

Senior guard Shannon McGinnis (Niles, Ill./Trinity) and Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) tallied the first two baskets of the second half to cut the lead to 46-31. The teams traded baskets in the third as the Knights stretched the lead back to 19 twice, only to see McKendree respond as the Bearcats used a layup from junior guard Abby Smith (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) and a free throw from Heberg to move the score to 58-42 heading into the final quarter.

A layup from Morton brought McKendree within striking distance at 58-44, but Bellarmine was able to keep its distance as they pushed the lead back to 20 with 4:16 to play. Emily Pusheck (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) hit on back to back attempts to slash the lead to 13 with 2:07 remaining, before a pair of free throws from Heberg moved the margin to 11. The Knight moved the lead back to 14 just seconds later and were able to fend off the Bearcats to earn the win.