(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 8)—The McKendree University women's basketball team from an 18-point deficit late in the first half to pull within three points in the fourth quarter before dropping an 83-72 decision Thursday night at home against Bellarmine University.
 
The Bearcats placed four players in double figures in the scoring column and held a 41-29 edge in rebounding against the Knights, but Bellarmine was able to hang on down the stretch to collect the Great Lakes Valley Conference victory. McKendree moves to 9-11 overall and 5-8 in conference action. The Bearcats will host Rockhurst University Saturday afternoon for Senior Day at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. Prior to the contest, McKendree will honor Abby Smith (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) and Shauniera Wilson (Springfield, Ill./Southeast) in a special ceremony.
 
Against Bellarmine, sophomore guard Jordan Heberg scored 11 of her team-high 19 points in the first half to lead the way for McKendree. Wilson hit 8-of-10 shots from the floor and finished with 16 points to go along with five rebounds, while freshman guard Callie Pohlman chipped in with 12 points and three assists. Freshman guard Sydney Diekhoff posted 10 points in a reserve role for the Bearcats, and sophomore forward Shayli Florine grabbed a team-best eight rebounds in the effort.
 
Bellarmine (14-9, 9-5 GLVC) grabbed an early 8-3 lead before McKendree scored five of the next seven points to trim the deficit to 10-8 with just under four minutes left in the first quarter. The Knights then used a 7-0 run to spark a 15-5 burst to end the period. Bellarmine shot 58.8 percent in building its 25-13 lead after one quarter of play. After the Bearcats shaved the margin back to single digits in the early stages of the second quarter, the Knights used a 13-4 run to take its largest lead of the night at 42-24 with 3:15 remaining until intermission.
 
McKendree regrouped down the stretch and closed the half on a 10-2 spurt to close the gap to 44-34 at halftime. The Bearcats continued to chip away at the deficit to open the second half, and a basket and free throw by Pohlman with 5:12 left in the third quarter brought McKendree within 50-46.
 
The momentum from the third-quarter comeback spilled into the fourth period as McKendree scored seven of the first 10 points to slash the Bellarmine lead to 62-59 with 8:23 on the clock. The teams then went toe-to-toe over the next several minutes as the Knights managed to hold the lead. The Bearcats got within four points on four different occasions, the last coming at 71-67 thanks to a jumper by Wilson with 4:06 remaining. But Bellarmine was able to fend off the McKendree comeback to collect the win.
 
Raven Merriweather scored a game-high 26 points and added seven rebounds to lead Bellarmine, which has won its last three games. Mikayla Berry added 13 points and a game-high four steals for the Knights.