(LEBANON, Ill. – Jan. 28) – The McKendree University women's basketball team kept their game with Truman State Thursday evening fairly close. It came down to the wire for the two teams, but the Bearcats were defeated 65-68.

McKendree and Truman came out fighting basket-for-basket at both ends of the court to open up the game. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, a good drive by Erin Golden (Batavia, IL/Batavia) would tie the game at 12. The Bearcats came out more aggressive in the second quarter, but still struggled to have shots drop. Back-to-back three pointers from Christy Fortune (Appleton, WI/Appleton West) would get her team within three with a little over six minutes left in the second quarter. Another look by Fortune would tie the game at 23 with 4:30 left.  The Bearcats would trail by only six heading into halftime. A jumper by Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) would tie the game at 24, with less than a minute in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was more back-and-forth as the beginning of the game, and the score was fairly even for the remainder of the time. A three-pointer by Clare Breden (Jerseyville, IL/Jerseyville Community) would put the teams back even at 53 with a little over five minutes left in the game. But free throws would be the dagger that put the game away 65-68.

Three McKendree players finished in double-figures, led by Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community). Diekhoff tallied 17 points and went 4-for-4 at the line. Christy Fortune (Appleton, WI/Appleton West) was right behind with 14 points, going 50.0 percent from the arc and 5-for-12 from the floor. Clare Breden (Jerseyville, IL/Jerseyville Community) closed out the top-3 for the Bearcats, with 13 points. She was 50.0 percent from the free throw line and beyond the arc, and 5-for-9 from the floor.

Truman State entered the game with the same energy and game-mindset as McKendree. They shined in the second quarter, going on a six-point run at 1:56 and nearly doubled the amount of points the Bearcats scored that period. They would hold a six-point lead heading into halftime. But it was in the third period where the Bulldogs held their biggest lead at nine points. The fourth quarter was back-and-forth with the Bearcats, but they eventually banked on free points from the line. They shot 17-for-20 in free throws and secured the 68-65 win.

Truman State also had three players finish in double-figures. The leader of both teams was Hannah Belanger who scored 25, going 7-for-7 from the line and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. Katey Klucking scored 13 points, going 3-for-9 from the floor and 50.0 percent from three-point range. Katie Jaseckas tallied 10 points and went 40for-9 from the floor.

Kari Kerkhoff and her team will be back in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center for their next game on Saturday, Jan. 30. McKendree will take on William Jewell College at 1:00 PM.