(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 10)—The McKendree University women's basketball team dropped a 69-57 decision to Rockhurst University Saturday on Senior Day at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
The Bearcats could not overcome a slow start against the visiting Hawks, making two of their first 22 shots from the field in the Great Lakes Valley Conference match-up. McKendree moves to 9-12 on the year and 5-9 in league play. The Bearcats will close out the home portion of their 2017-18 regular-season schedule on Thursday by hosting the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
Freshman guard Sydney Diekhoff came off the bench to score a team-leading 14 points for McKendree. Diekhoff netted 11 of her 14 points in the second half. Sophomore guard Jordan Heberg registered eight of her 12 points after halftime for the Bearcats. Senior guard Abby Smith (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville), freshman guard Callie Pohlman and sophomore guard Madison Hart each pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Smith dished out three assists.
 
Smith, along with forward Shauniera Wilson (Springfield, Ill./Southeast), were honored in a pre-game ceremony on Senior Day. Wilson finished Saturday's contest with seven points and five rebounds. Both Smith and Wilson played 22 minutes against Rockhurst.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start on Saturday before Rockhurst (10-12, 6-8 GLVC) outscored McKendree 11-3 over the final five minutes of the first quarter to build a 13-5 advantage. The Bearcats, who shot just 11.1 percent in the opening period (2-of-18), missed on its first four shots of the second quarter as the Hawks stretched the margin to 18-5 with 7:03 left until Heberg connected on consecutive baskets to get McKendree back within single digits.
 
Rockhurst slowly increased its lead the rest of the half and hit a shot just before the first half buzzer to take a 33-16 lead into the locker room. McKendree looked to battle back in the middle stages of the third quarter, getting within 38-26 following a lay-up and free throw at the 5:16 mark. But the Hawks shot 57.1 percent in the period to command a 53-38 lead with 10 minutes to play. The Bearcats got within 10 points on two different occasions in the fourth quarter, the last coming at 67-57 thanks to a lay-up from Diekhoff with 1:05 remaining.
 
McKendree did hold a 43-37 edge in rebounding, including 20 on the offensive end. The Bearcats converted their 20 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points for a 16-4 edge in the category.
 
Madeline Ronshausen scored a game-high 21 points to lead Rockhurst, while Morgan Harwood added 10 points and five rebounds. Rachel Holden came off the bench to haul in six rebounds for the Hawks.