GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE vs. MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS -- Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
Harry M. Statham Sports Center -- Lebanon, Ill.
WATCH LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
LIVE STATS
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS SEASON STATISTICS

McKENDREE at MARYVILLE -- Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, 1 p.m.
Moloney Arena -- St. Louis, Mo.
WATCH LIVE (Maryville Broadcast)
LIVE STATS
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
MARYVILLE SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 14)--The McKendree University women's basketball team hits the homestretch of its 2017-18 season this week with two key Great Lakes Valley Conference match-ups. The Bearcats will host the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the team's final home game of the regular season on Thursday before making the short trip to St. Louis to meet Maryville University Saturday afternoon. The UMSL contest can be seen live on the Bearcat Sports Network at www.glvcsn.com/mckendree.

McKendree holds a 9-12 overall record and a 5-9 mark in GLVC play entering Thursday's contest against UMSL. The Bearcats were defeated by Rockhurst University in their last game on Saturday, 69-57. Sydney Diekhoff came off the bench to lead the Bearcats with 14 points, while Jordan Heberg netted 12 points in the contest. The visiting Hawks raced to a 33-16 lead and held off a McKendree comeback attempt in the second half to notch the win.

In the latest GLVC Point Ranking System standings released following Saturday's conference play, McKendree moved to ninth overall. The Bearcats are less than two-tenths of a point behind Rockhurst and Truman State University for the No. 8 spot. The top eight teams in the final PRS standings release on Feb. 24 will qualify for the GLVC Tournament to be held March 1-4 in Edwardsville, Ill. 

Heberg and Diekhoff continue to be the lone two McKendree players averaging in double figures for the season. Heberg shows the way at 12.5 PPG, while Diekhoff is contributing 11 PPG. The duo has combined to knock down 70 three-pointers on the season. Diekhoff is eighth in the league in three-pointer made per game at 1.9. Shauniera Wilson (Springfield, Ill./Southeast) is the highest-ranked individual for McKendree in the latest GLVC statistical report as she is second overall in blocked shots per game at 1.4. Jordan Morton sits eighth in the GLVC in rebounding at 7.3 RPG. Callie Pohlman is tied for ninth in assists per game at 3.0, while she is 10th in assist/turnover ratio at 1.0. 

McKendree's game at Maryville will mark the beginning of a season-ending, three-game road swing. The Bearcats will close out the 2017-18 regular season at Missouri S&T on Feb. 22 and at Quincy University on Feb. 24. 

ABOUT MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
The Tritons are one of the hottest teams in the GLVC, entering the week with a 16-5 overall record and a 10-4 ledger in league play. UMSL wrapped up the first-ever GLVC Central Division title last week and is riding a nine-game win streak, which is the second-longest active streak in the conference. The Tritons feature a balanced attack with three players averaging in double figures. Jordan Fletcher leads the way at 15.1 PPG. She is also shooting 56.7 percent from the field and leads the team with 23 blocked shots. Arielle Jackson (14.3 PPG) and Shawnta Johnson (11 PPG) are also scoring in double digits for UMSL.  Alex LaPorta is pulling down 8.5 rebounds per contest, which is good for second among all GLVC players. Johnson is ninth in the league in rebounding (6.9 RPG) and Fletcher is 10th (6.6 RPG), giving the Tritons the only program in the conference with three top-10 rebounders. In addition, Johnson has dished out 104 assists this season and leads the league in assists per game at 5.0.

The teams met for the first time this year back on Jan. 13 in the Mark Twain Building on the UMSL campus. The Bearcats held a 10-point lead late in the third quarter, but the Tritons rallied to post a 63-55 triumph. Jordan Heberg led McKendree with 15 points while Sydney Diekhoff added 11 in a reserve role. Jordan Morton chipped in with eight points and a team-leading 11 rebounds. Jordan Fletcher shook off early foul trouble to lead UMSL with 17 points, while Alex LaPorta added 15 points and Kaitlynn Henning posted 14 points and a game-high seven steals. 

ABOUT MARYVILLE
The Saints are 7-14 on the year and 4-11 against GLVC competition. Maryville has lost its last two outings, including a 72-48 setback at home last Saturday against Drury University. Like UMSL, Maryville features a balanced offensive attack as four different players are scoring in double figures this season. Ali Ringering heads the group at 13.9 PPG. Ringering is also an 81.5 percent shooter from the free throw line. Kayla Steward is next at 12.5 PPG, while Stephanie Sherwood is close behind at 11.6 PPG. Sherwood also paces the Saints in rebounding at 4.1 RPG. Mary Barton, who is scoring 10.8 PPG, leads Maryville with 71 assists. 

On Jan. 11 at the Statham Center, McKendree clawed its way to a 63-57 win over Maryville. The Bearcats used an 18-3 run over the final 6:48 of play to rally for the victory. Sydney Diekhoff was the lone McKendree player to score in double figures with 16 points. Jordan Morton collected a team-best eight rebounds in the effort. Kayla Steward paced Maryville with 16 points while Ali Ringering notched 12 points.