(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 27)—The McKendree women's basketball team gave 20^th-ranked Southern Indiana all it could handle on Saturday at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center before the Screaming Eagles pulled away for a 74-62 victory.
 
The Bearcats' bench outscored the Southern Indiana reserves 28-16 and also forced 20 turnovers by the visitors in the Great Lakes Valley Conference clash. But the Screaming Eagles used a decisive third quarter to take command and notch their sixth consecutive win. McKendree is now 8-9 on the season and 4-6 in GLVC play. The Bearcats will hit the road for their next two games, beginning with a key conference battle at the University of Indianapolis on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. ET.
 
Freshman guard Sydney Diekhoff continued her strong play of late for McKendree as she led the Bearcats with 18 points off the bench. Sophomore forward Megan Jensen added 10 points and five rebounds in a reserve role, while sophomore guard Jordan Heberg also connected for 10 points for McKendree. Senior guard Abby Smith (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) – making her first start of the season – led the Bearcats with eight rebounds and four assists in the contest.
 
Southern Indiana (17-2, 9-1 GLVC) scored 10 of the first 12 points of the game before McKendree countered with an 8-2 run of its own to pull within 12-10 midway through the first quarter. After a basket by the Screaming Eagles stretched the margin back to four points, the Bearcats ripped off seven straight points to surge in front. Diekhoff had the last five points of the run, including a three-pointer with 2:24 left in the period, to give McKendree a 17-14 advantage.
 
The Bearcats' lead was short-lived as Southern Indiana drained a three-pointer on its next possession to ignite a 7-0 run that closed the first quarter to give the Screaming Eagles a 24-20 cushion. USI shot 69.2 percent in the first 10 minutes of play and then pushed its lead to as many as nine points in the middle stages of the second quarter. McKendree rallied once again late in the half, closing the second period with a 10-2 run to trim the deficit to 40-39 at the intermission.
 
The teams traded baskets over the first few minutes of the third quarter when USI looked to take control. The Screaming Eagles held McKendree without a field goal for more than six minutes while putting together a 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the contest, 58-45, with 1:29 left in the period.
 
Southern Indiana took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter when McKendree tried to rally one more time. A pair of free throws from Diekhoff with 6:21 remaining enabled the Bearcats to get within 60-55. But the Screaming Eagles scored the next seven points to regain a double-digit advantage they would not relinquish.
 
Five different players scored in double figures for USI, led by an 18-point from Kaydie Grooms. Kacy Eschweiler added 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots while Morgan Dahlstrom registered a double-double for the Screaming Eagles with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.