(MARYVILLE, Mo., Dec. 16)--The McKendree University women's basketball team returned to the court Sunday afternoon to record a 59-55 non-conference victory at Northwest Missouri State University.
 
McKendree trailed by three heading into the final period, but limited the hosts to just seven points in the fourth quarter to win the Battle of the Bearcats. With the win, McKendree improves to 7-3 on the season and will play its final game before the holiday break Wednesday afternoon at home against Culver-Stockton College. Game time is set for 1 p.m. in Lebanon.
 
Junior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) dropped in a career-high 19 points to lead for McKendree players scoring in double figures at Northwest Missouri State. Jensen, who was 8-of-13 from the field on Sunday, added eight rebounds and four assists in the winning effort. Sophomore guard Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) helped out with 13 points, while senior forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) and junior guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) each netted 10 points for the Bearcats. Morton notched her first double-double of the 2018-19 season as she pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for McKendree. Sophomore guard Callie Pohlman (Appleton, WI/Appleton North) led all players with five assists.
 
Northwest Missouri State took a 48-45 lead in the fourth quarter before McKendree started its game-winning rally. The teams traded baskets to open the period when the Bearcats turned up the defensive pressure. McKendree held Northwest Missouri State without a point for just over seven minutes down the stretch. During that span, the Bearcats put together a 10-0 run to take the lead for good at 57-53. Morton and Heberg each scored four points in the period, including Heberg's three-pointer and subsequent free throw with 1:22 on the clock.
 
The hosts used a lay-up with just over a minute to play to pull back within a basket before Jensen was fouled and sank two free throws with 35 seconds on the clock to stretch the margin back to four points at 59-55. McKendree then sealed the win by holding Northwest Missouri State scoreless on their final four shot attempts in the closing seconds. In the fourth quarter, McKendree held Northwest Missouri State to just 27.3 percent shooting (3-of-11).
 
McKendree got out to a quick start in Sunday's game, shooting 53.8 percent in the first quarter in taking a 15-14 advantage. Northwest Missouri State surged in front in the opening moments of the second period and built a seven-point cushion on its way to a 30-25 lead at the half.
 
For the game, McKendree forced 19 Northwest Missouri State turnovers. The Bearcats turned those miscues into 18 points on the offensive end, and held an 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Jaelyn Haggard and Kendey Eaton each scored 15 points to lead Northwest Missouri State (3-7). Erika Schlosser grabbed a team-best five rebounds for the host Bearcats.