(ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Dec. 18) – The McKendree University women's basketball went on a 15-0 run early in the fourth quarter, to secure a 67-54 win over Lewis Friday night.
A good layup under the basket by
Madison Jones (Abingdon, IL/Abiingdon-Avon) got the Bearcats on the board first after both teams did not see any shots drop in the first three minutes of play. The Bearcats took an early lead and set the tone of the game, drawing fouls when driving to the net for a chance at extra points. The Bearcats saw they lead stripped away in the second quarter by a one-basket difference. A good layup by
Christy Fortune (Appleton, WI/Appleton West) tied the game, followed by two free throws to put her team back up by two with four and a half minutes left in the half. The Bearcats would battle back to make it an even 33-33 going into halftime.
The second half did not start out as the Bearcats had planned. They continued to drive to the basket but could not find ways around the defensive walls the Flyers would set up.
Callie Pohlman (Appleton, WI/Appleton North) would maneuver her way through the paint for a layup and put her team within three with under a minute left in the third quarter. A three-pointer in the corner by Jones would put her team within one and cut the Flyers lead early in the fourth quarter. This would start a 15-0 run by the Bearcats, not allowing their opponent to score in the first nine minutes of the four quarter.
Kari Kerkhoff's team led by as many as 13 points in the game, all in the final quarter where they outscored the Flyers 21-to-2.
Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) led the way for the Bearcats with 15 points and was 91.7 percent from the free thro line.
Erin Stroberg (Rockford, IL/Rockford East) had great game off the bench, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds, including 2-for-2 in free throw shots and 66.7 percent from field goal range.
Madison Jones (Abingdon, IL/Abiingdon-Avon) was the final double figure of the night, with 13 points and eight rebounds.
After trailing for the first six minutes of play, the Flyers would put up a three-pointer from the corner and tie the game at 12. Evert time they would trail the Bearcats, they slowly inch their way back within a basket. The flyers would take the lead with one minute left in the first quarter form a good look at the top of the key. The Flyers took over in the second quarter, being more physical on the defensive end and trying to maintain a one-basket lead.
The Flyers took a five-point lead after a steal, followed by a good layup under the basket with a little over four and a half minutes left in the third quarter. The Flyers' aggressive hands and strong defense would send them with a six-point lead into the final quarter. As for the fourth quarter, the Flyers offense could not score until the final minute of the game, losing their lead. Their deficit grew to 13 points after a 15-0 point-run from the Bearcats.
The Flyers were led by two players in double figures. Taylor Gugliuzza scored 12 points and was 33.3 percent from three-point range. Lily Courier recorded 11 points and went 3-for-3 from the free throw line.
McKendree will head back to Lebanon, IL, for their final home game of the calendar year on Sunday, Dec. 20. The Bearcats will tip-off at 1:00 PM in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center against the Tritons of University of Missouri-St. Louis.
