SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – McKendree University women's basketball fell 96-57 to the No. 3-ranked Drury University in a conference contest on Thursday evening.  The Bearcats move to 6-6 on the season and 3-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference as they prepare to face Missouri S&T on Saturday.
 
Although the Bearcats would jump to a quick 4-0 lead over the Panthers with early buckets from junior forward Naomi McDaniel and freshman guard Georgia Duncan, Drury would respond with a 16-0 run to claim the lead. At the half, the Panthers had extended their lead to 38-25.
 
Drury would have a strong third quarter, putting up 33 points and shooting 68 percent from the field as the Bearcats attempted to chip away at the Panthers' lead. Despite McKendree's effort, Drury claimed the win 96-57.
 
As a team, the Bearcats shot 40 percent from the field, 25 percent from beyond the arc, and 64 percent from the free throw line.
 
Junior guard Madyson Harper led the Bearcats offensively with season-highs nine points and six rebounds while adding four assists.  
 
Junior guard Christy Fortune, sophomore guard Clare Breden, McDaniel, and Duncan all netted eight points apiece while junior guard Maclayne Taylor tied Harper for a team-high six rebounds. Freshman forward Alyssa Powell and junior guard Erin Golden added four points each.
 
The Bearcats were held to single-digit individual scoring for the first time since playing Winona State earlier this season on Nov. 19.
 
McKendree head coach Kari Kerhoff said of the game, "I thought we had a good first half, especially boxing them out. It was great to see Georgia [Duncan] and Alyssa [Powell] be aggressive and play some solid minutes for us."
 
Duncan shot 4-for-6 from the field while Powell netted four points and grabbed one rebound in just under 10 minutes of play.  
 
With the victory, Drury improves to 12-1 on the season and 5-0 in the GLVC. The Panthers marked their fifth game shooting over 50 percent from the field in addition to shooting 32 percent from three and 80 percent from the free throw line.
 
Five Panthers scored in double-digits including senior forward Alana Findley with a game-high 19 points and three steals.
 
McKendree continues its conference schedule this weekend in Rolla, Mo., as they take on Missouri S&T in a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 7.