(SPRINGFIELD, MO – Jan. 6) – The McKendree University women's basketball team opened the new year with a mid-week contest against Drury Wednesday night. The Bearcats put up an aggressive defense, but Drury came out on top, 96-62.

The Bearcats did a good job on the offense to keep the ball moving, forcing Drury to move around the half court. A near half-court buzzer-beater to end the first quarter buy Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) would cut the Drury lead, to 17. The Bearcats were very aggressive on defense to help chip away at their deficit, not allowing Drury to get a rebound. The Bearcats led the way in three-pointers (60.0 percent) and steals (4) in the third quarter, tallying 22 points during the quarter. Their deficit would grow to at most 36 points in the final quarter. The Bearcats shot 39.3 percent from the floor, 26.3 from three-point range, and 65.0 percent in free throws.

McKendree had two players finish in double-figures. Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) led the way for both teams and set a new game-high scored points in the contest, with 26 points. Diekhoff shot 50.0 percent from the floor and went 3-for-8 in three-point attempts. Christy Fortune (Appleton, WI/Appleton West) put up 12 points, for 57,1 percent, and was 4-for-4 in free throws. Kaelyn Froebe (Lincoln, IL/Lincoln) has seven points of her own, going 50.0 percent form both the floor and beyond the arc. In her collegiate debut, Clare Breden (Jerseyville, IL/Jerseyville Community) recorded five points.

The Lady Panthers were looking to tally their 40^th straight win, dating back from the 2019 season. They came out on fire and built up to a 10-point lead, five minutes into the first quarter. Working the offensive glass really well, putting up shots and driving to the net while being double-teamed. The Lady Panthers would take a 50-25 lead heading into halftime. Their biggest lead would come in the fourth quarter, at 36 points.

Drury had six players finish in double-figures. Emily Parker tallied 19 points for her team, going 58.0 percent from the floor, and 4-for-4 in free throws. Kelsey Winfrey was right behind with 18 points, going 5-for-10 from the floor, and 5-for-5 in free throws. Haley Meely put up 16 points of her own and was 54.5 percent in shooting.

Kari Kerkhoff and her team will be back in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center for their next schedule contest. McKendree will face Southern Indiana on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 1:00 PM.