INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - McKendree University women's basketball fell 70-53 at the University of Indianapolis in a Saturday afternoon Great Lakes Valley Conference contest at Nicoson Hall. The Bearcats move to 7-10 overall and 4-6 in the GLVC for the 2022-23 season while the Greyhounds improve to 10-8 overall and 6-4 in the conference. 

McKendree stayed within three points of Indianapolis for the first six minutes of the game, taking a two-point lead twice early in the first quarter, before the Greyhounds would go on an 8-0 run at the four-minute mark. Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the first quarter though the Greyhounds hit 6-of-9 shots from beyond the arc to extend their lead to 24-13 at the end of the first 10 minutes. In the second quarter, scoring slowed down for both McKendree and Indianapolis as the Greyhounds tallied 14 points and the Bearcats recorded 10 points to set the score at 38-23 heading into the break. 

The Bearcats came out hot, hitting the first six points of the third quarter to come within nine of the Greyhounds' lead. Indianapolis was held to 10 points in the third as McKendree put up 16. Junior foward Naomi McDaniel netted eight of the 16 third-quarter points for the Bearcats, helping push McKendree to a single-digit deficit at the end of the third 10 minutes, 48-39. An explosive 12-point run from the Greyhounds in the fourth period of play put the victory out of reach for the Bearcats as Indianapolis sealed the win, 70-53. 

Overall, the Bearcats shot 39 percent from the field and 63 percent from the free throw line, but struggled to find the basket beyond the arc as they were held to just 1-for-12 from the three-point line. Indianapolis shot 42 percent from the field, 33 percent from the three-point line, and 90 percent from the charity stripe. During the second half, the Greyhounds were iced from beyond the arc as they were 0-for-7 from deep. 

Offensively, McKendree was led by McDaniel with 14 points, the only Bearcat to tally double-digit points in the contest. McDaniel also snagged five rebounds and dished out four assists. Junior guard Erin Golden was the second-leading scorer for McKendree, posting eight points, three assists, and grabbing a team-high six rebounds.  

The Greyhounds were led by guard Liv Becker with 21 points and eight rebounds in the victory for Indianapolis. 

McKendree will be back at home next week on Thursday night to host Quincy in a 5:30 p.m. game at Harry M. Statham Sports Center.