(BOLIVAR, Mo. – Feb. 6) – The McKendree University women's basketball team closed out their weekend with back-to-back victories. McKendree put up a double-digit victory over Southwest Baptist, 72-62 Saturday afternoon.
McKendree brought the momentum and mindset from their previous contest into Saturday afternoon's battle against the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University. McKendree put up a huge first quarter, starting with a 6-0 run, started by
Christy Fortune (Appleton, WI/Appleton West) in the paint. in the first quarter alone, the Bearcats shot 75 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from the arc. The second quarter appearance by McKendree was not as strong, as they only put up seven points. Fortunately, McKendree would hold onto their lead and go into halftime 34-33. Southwest Baptist would push back in the third frame, going on a 13-6 run to get within two to McKendree. A three pointer from
Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) with 4:39 left in the game gave her team the extra push they needed to make sure they would not fall behind. The Bearcats went 50.0 percent from the floor, 8-for-18 from the arc, and 66.7 percent from the line.
All five of the Bearcat starters finished in double-figures.
Sydney Diekhoff (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community) led with 22 points, going 4-for-7 from the arc and perfect from attempts at the line.
Christy Fortune (Appleton, WI/Appleton West) followed with 13 points, was 3-for-4 from the free throw line and led with eight rebounds.
Jenna Krause (Seymour, WI/Seymour) added 12 points, going 6-for-8 from the field. Both
Callie Pohlman (Appleton, WI/Appleton North) and
Erin Stroberg (Rockford, IL/Rockford East) added 10 points apiece. Pohlman was 4-for-8 from the field, while Stroberg was 50.0 percent from the field and also had eight rebounds.
McKendree will be back in the Harry M. Statham Center for their next week of competition. They will face Drury for a second time this season, on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 PM.
