(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 17)—The McKendree University women's basketball team is off to the best start in its NCAA Division II era thanks to a 63-61 victory Sunday afternoon in the Bearcats' 2019-20 home debut against Missouri Southern State University.
 
Senior guard Jordan Heberg (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield North) – who scored a game-high 22 points on Sunday – sank three free throws with 2:59 remaining to give the Bearcats the lead for good. McKendree eventually edged out to a four-point lead down the stretch and held off a late challenge from the Lions to improve to 4-0 on the year. The Bearcats will now have 12 days off to prepare for the Fairfield Inn Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Missouri Western State University.
 
Sophomore guard Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) added 16 points and three steals in Sunday's win for McKendree, while junior guard Callie Pohlman (Appleton, WI/Appleton North) helped out with six points and four assists. Senior guard Madison Hart (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) hauled in a team-best 14 rebounds, while senior forward Brianna Johnson (Lodi, WI/Beaver Dam) had a team-best six assists for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree jumped out to a 20-15 and built a 32-23 cushion following a three-pointer by Krause with 2:55 remaining in the first half. The Bearcats took the nine-point lead into the locker room, and Krause nailed another trey on McKendree's first possession of the second half to extend the margin to 35-23. Missouri Southern closed the gap to 44-38 at the end of the third period, then used a 14-1 run to regain the lead at 52-49 with 5:40 remaining.
       
Following a timeout, Heberg drilled a three-pointer to knot the contest at 52-52. After Missouri Southern scored to move in front one more time, Heberg was fouled on her three-point attempt at the 2:59 mark. She sank all three attempts to push the Bearcats out in front at 55-54. A free throw by senior forward Megan Jensen (Union, MO/Saint Francis Borgia Regional) was followed by a jumper from Heberg to stretch the McKendree advantage to 58-54 at the 2:03 mark.
 
The Lions made one final run at the Bearcats, getting within 60-59, but a lay-up by junior guard Madison Jones (Abingdon, IL/Abiingdon-Avon) and a free throw from Krause in the closing seconds sealed the win.
 
Zoe Campbell led Missouri Southern (1-4) with 16 points, while Chasidee Owens added 15 points and a team-best 11 rebounds for the Lions.