ST. LOUIS, Mo. - McKendree University women's basketball clinched an 86-79 win over the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday afternoon to end its regular season schedule. With the win, the Bearcats finished 12-15 overall and 9-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference to place seventh in conference standings heading into the tournament. The GLVC tournament will be held March 2-5 at Lindenwood University.  

The Bearcats posted a solid offensive performance at UMSL, scoring 21 or more points in three of the four quarters. After one quarter, McKendree trailed the Tritons 26-21, but outscored UMSL 22-10 in the second quarter to lead 43-36 at the half. In the first half, McKendree led by as much as 10 points.  

UMSL doubled its second-quarter score with 20 points to the Bearcats' 19 in the third quarter, though McKendree still held a six-point advantage, 62-56, by the end of 30 minutes of play. Although the Tritons would climb back within three points with 19 seconds to play, a 24-point fourth quarter sealed the win for McKendree, 86-79.  

Sophomore Clare Breden recorded a career-high 29 points and season-high six assists against UMSL, shooting 63 percent (10-for16) from the field, 66 percent from beyond the arc (2-for-3), and 88 percent (7-for-8) from the free throw line. Breden accounted for 12 of the Bearcats' 22 second-quarter points. Junior forward Naomi McDaniel added 21 points and seven rebounds for the duo to combine for 50 of McKendree's 86 total points. McDaniel shot 90 percent (9-for-10) from the field and 75 percent (3-for-4) from the charity stripe. Junior guard Erin Golden also recorded double digits for the Bearcats, netting 14 points. 

As a team, McKendree shot a season-high 58.2 percent from the field, including a 72.7-percent first quarter, while the Tritons shot just under the Bearcats at 56.6 percent for the game. However, McKendree sank 19-of-23 free throws while UMSL only hit 5-of-11.  

With the loss, the Tritons dropped to 9-17 overall and 7-13 in the conference to place them at ninth in the final standings. UMSL was led by sophomore guard Jalysa Stokes with 18 points.  

Up next, McKendree enters postseason play on Thursday against No.2-seeded Lewis University at 8:15 p.m. at Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo.