POST-GAME INTERVIEWS

(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 14)--The McKendree University women's basketball team made its 2018-19 home debut a successful one with a 74-47 victory Wednesday night against Upper Iowa University at the Statham Center.
 
The Bearcats used a dominant third quarter to pull away from the Peacocks to improve to 2-1 on the year. McKendree will wrap up a two-game home stand Saturday afternoon when Davenport University comes to Lebanon for a non-conference tilt. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
 
Four different McKendree players scored in double figures in a balanced offensive attack against Upper Iowa. Junior guards Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) and Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) each connected for 12 points to share team-high scoring honors, while Hart hauled in six rebounds. Sophomore guard Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) and freshman guard Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) each posted 10 points. Junior forward Shayli Florine (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) added nine points in the effort as senior forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds. Freshman guard Haley Zylka (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) helped out with four assists and three steals for the Bearcats.
 
After the teams battled to an 11-11 tie through the first 10 minutes of play, Upper Iowa (0-3) scored the first four points of the second period to build a 15-11 advantage. McKendree responded with an 11-2 run to regain a 22-17 lead with 3:26 remaining until the break. The Peacocks fought back and scored on their final possession of the first half to rally within 27-25 with 17 seconds remaining. Zylka missed a driving lay-up with two seconds, but Florine grabbed the rebounds and scored on a put-back just before the first-half buzzer to take a 29-25 lead at the half.
 
"We made a couple of defensive adjustments at halftime," said McKendree head coach Kari Kerkhoff. "I thought we were getting pressure on the wings in the second quarter, but (Upper Iowa) were driving to the basket consistently. So we talked about making some rotation adjustments, and our forwards really responded on the defensive end. That allowed our guards to get out in transition and lead to good things in the third quarter."
 
McKendree came out firing on all cylinders to open the third quarter. The Bearcats scored the first 13 points of the period to push their lead to 42-25 with 6:14 remaining in the quarter. On the defensive end, McKendree forced four Upper Iowa turnovers during the opening burst while holding the Peacocks to three missed field goal attempts.
 
The Bearcats continued to add to their lead in the quarter, using a 10-2 run to build a 56-30 cushion with just over a minute left. Junior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) capped the McKendree third-quarter outburst with a lay-up to give the Bearcats a 60-33 lead heading into the fourth period. The Bearcats shot 63.2 percent in the period (12-of-19) while holding Upper Iowa to just 1-of-7 from the floor (14.3 percent). McKendree also forced nine turnovers in the third quarter.
 
For the game, McKendree forced 30 turnovers by Upper Iowa. The Bearcats held a 33-7 advantage in points off turnovers on the night. McKendree also dished out 20 assists in its 30 made field goals against the Peacocks.
 
Bekka Pierson recorded a game-high 17 points for Upper Iowa, while Haley Martin led all players with 10 rebounds.