LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University women's basketball notched another win at home on Thursday night over Rockhurst University. The Bearcats improved to 5-2 on the year and 3-0 in conference with the 69-55 win.
McKendree kept the lead for the entire game, putting up a double-digit lead in the first quarter, 22-11. 10 of the Bearcats' first-quarter points were courtesy of senior forward Naomi McDaniel. At the half, McKendree kept up the momentum with a score of 35-26 after 20 minutes of play.
The third quarter proved to be a difficult shooting quarter for the Hawks as they shot just 18 percent from the field, scoring nine points. McKendree pressed on and netted 20 points by shooting 50 percent from the field and 66 percent from beyond the arc. The Bearcats' lead was insurmountable for Rockhurst as the final buzzer sounded with a score of 69-55 in favor of McKendree.
McKendree was led in scoring and rebounding by McDaniel who fired a career high-tying 24 points and snagged a career-high 13 rebounds for a double-double. McDaniel was 10-for-15 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line and added two blocks and three assists. Two more Bearcats scored in double figures including senior guard Madyson Harper with 13 points (3-of-4 from three) and junior guard Clare Breden with 12 points.
Breden and senior guard Christy Fortune each grabbed six rebounds in the contest. Harper topped the steals list once again totaling three.
As a team, the Bearcats shot 40 percent from the field and had two season-highs shooting 92 percent from the free throw line and notching 47 rebounds.
McKendree head coach Kari Kerkhoff commented on the Bearcats' third conference win. "We like where the team is at right now and we are playing good team defense with balanced scoring. It's early, and we still have things to improve on, but I am excited about how hard everyone is playing and executing our scouts," said the ninth-year head coach. "I love our energy and that starts from the bench then translates to the floor."
Up next, McKendree is back at home on Saturday afternoon to face William Jewell College in a 1 p.m. conference contest.
