(FRANKFORT, Ky., Dec. 8)--The McKendree University women's basketball team saw its three-game win streak come to an end Saturday afternoon with a 71-64 loss at Kentucky State University.
 
The Bearcats led by as many as 12 points midway through the second quarter, but the host Thorobrettes took control late in the third quarter and held off a late McKendree rally down the stretch. McKendree moves to 6-3 on the year and will have a week off to prepare for another non-conference affair at Northwest Missouri State on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m.
 
Sophomore guard Sydyey Diekhoff led McKendree with 17 points, while junior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) posted 11 points, including a 7-of-7 effort from the free throw line. Junior guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) chipped in with 10 points for the Bearcats, who shot just 33.3 percent in the setback. Junior guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) narrowly missed her second straight double-double as she finished the contest with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
McKendree led for all but 13 seconds of the first quarter, racing to a 7-2 start before Kentucky State (5-5) cut into its deficit. The Thorobrettes pulled even at 10-10 before Jensen hit a trio of free throws over the final 2:08 of the period to help give the Bearcats a 14-10 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
 
The teams traded baskets for the first few minutes of the second quarter before McKendree ripped off seven consecutive points to take their largest lead of the contest, 28-16, with 5:30 left until halftime. Junior forward Shayli Florine (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) – who had nine points at Kentucky State – scored the final six points during the spurt for the Bearcats.
 
The Thorobrettes whittled the McKendree lead down to 34-28 at the half before grabbing the lead for good in the third quarter. Kentucky State outscored the Bearcats 15-0 over a seven-minute span to surge in front at 47-39 with 1:06 remaining in the period. Florine ended the McKendree dry spell on a lay-up to help bring the Bearcats within 47-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
In the final period, Kentucky State moved out to a 14-point cushion before McKendree made one final run in the contest. The Bearcats used a 7-2 run – capped by five straight points from Heberg – to rally within 70-64 with 16 seconds remaining. But the Throbrettes hit a free throw to build their lead back to three possessions to hang on for the win.
 
Amani Williams led Kentucky State with 18 points and a game-high five steals. Tara Jefferson came off the bench to add 16 points and six rebounds, while Kiante Butts helped out with 14 poitns and a game-high nine rebounds for the Thorobrettes.