(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 31)--The McKendree University women's basketball team picked up a key Great Lakes Valley Conference victory Thursday night with 58-51 triumph at home against the University of Indianapolis.
 
The Bearcats forced 23 turnovers and shot 57.1 percent in the fourth quarter to hold off a pesky Greyhound squad. With the win, McKendree improves to 11-8 overall and is back to .500 in conference play at 5-5. The Bearcats will close out a two-game home stand Saturday afternoon when Lewis University, the No. 18-ranked team in NCAA Division II, visits the Statham Center at 1 p.m.
 
Senior forward Jordan Morton (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the third  quarter to lead the way for McKendree. Sophomore guard Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) contributed 13 points and four assists. Both Morton and Diekhoff shared team-high rebounding honors for the Bearcats with five apiece, and Morton added a game-high three steals in the victory. Freshman guard Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) contributed seven points in a reserve role as sophomore guard Callie Pohlman (Appleton, WI/Appleton North) matched Diekhoff with four assists.
 
Both teams were held in check on the offensive end during a low-scoring first quarter. McKendree managed to hit just 35.7 percent of their shots from the field, but in turn limited Indianapolis to 21.4 percent from the floor in holding a 10-6 advantage after 10 minutes of play. A three-pointer by Diekhoff followed by a short jumper from junior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) on the first two possessions of the second quarter helped the Bearcats extend their margin to 15-6 with exactly nine minutes remaining until halftime.
 
The Greyhounds answered with a 7-2 run to pull within 17-13 just over two minutes later. Indianapolis eventually pulled within three points on two different occasions in the quarter before two free throws by Diekhoff on the Bearcats' final possession of the first half helped send McKendree into the locker room with a 23-18 lead.
 
McKendree broke from the gates quickly in the third quarter, pushing the lead to double digits at 28-18 on a lay-up from Morton at the 7:16 mark of the period. The Bearcats eventually took their largest lead of the night at 35-23 when Krause scored on a lay-up with 4:49 left in the quarter. Indianapolis clawed back within five points before Morton helped McKendree regain control late in the period. She scored the Bearcats' final eight points of the period – including her first three-point field goal of the season – as the Bearcats were able to extend the cushion back to 45-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Over the final 10 minutes, McKendree turned up the defensive pressure, forcing the Greyhounds to miss 11 of their final 14 shots in the contest. Indianapolis got as close as three points in the opening moments of the fourth quarter when a three-pointer from Diekhoff and two free throws from Hart quickly stretched the Bearcats' lead out to 50-42 with 5:21 to play. McKendree was able to hold the Greyhounds at bay to collect their victory.
 
Emma Benoit posted game-high totals of 21 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead Indianapolis (8-11, 2-7 GLVC). Laura Thomas added 11 points for the Greyhounds.