QUINCY, Ill. - McKendree University women's basketball triumphed over Quincy University 65-61 on Saturday afternoon to add to its conference success this season with six straight Great Lakes Valley Conference wins. The Bearcats are now 8-2 on the season and 6-0 in conference play.
McKendree and Quincy proved to be quite evenly matched teams as the score difference never reached more than nine points in the contest; in 40 minutes, there were 12 lead changes and 10 times the score was tied.
Though the Bearcats held the advantage after one quarter of play, 18-15, the Hawks took the lead heading into halftime, 34-31. McKendree came out firing in the third quarter, putting up 20 points to Quincy's 12 to reclaim the lead 51-46. An intense fourth quarter tied the score at 60-60 with three minutes left to play.
Late in the fourth quarter, senior guard Christy Fortune was fouled on a three-point shot to earn three tries at the foul stripe; she sank all three to put the Bearcats ahead 63-61. Quincy received two more chances to take the lead or tie the game but could not convert the opportunities. Junior guard Clare Breden would be the next Bearcat to step to the line for two and the chance to put the game out of reach for the Hawks with seven seconds to play. At the buzzer, the Bearcats were victorious, 65-61.
As a team, McKendree shot 43 percent from the field, 35 percent from beyond the arc, and tied its season high at the free throw line at 92 percent.
Breden led all scores for the game with 19 points and dishing five assists as well as grabbing two steals. Fortune ended with a season-high 15 points, sinking four three-pointers, while senior forward Naomi McDaniel rounded out the double-digit scoring for McKendree with 10 points and 10 rebounds. On the boards, senior guards Maclayne Taylor and Erin Golden accounted for eight rebounds apiece.
McKendree head coach Kari Kerkhoff commented on the win. "I was really impressed with the team effort today," said the ninth-year head coach. "This game was not easy and our team responded to Quincy's runs by staying poised, executing our game plan, and making free throws."
Up next, McKendree takes a trip to Puerto Rico for two games next weekend over the holiday break.
