LEBANON, Ill. – The women's basketball team finished the week 2-0 as they held on to their lead to win at home against Truman State University on Saturday, January 11th in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) action at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon, Illinois. 

Score: McKendree University 72, Truman State University 60 

Record: Bearcats 10-3, 6-1 GLVC | Bulldogs 5-11, 2-4 GLVC 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams hung on tightly to each other within the first several minutes of the game, with neither allowing the opposition to lead more than four points. After a successful layup from Truman State graduate guard Gracie Neff to put them up by three, McKendree responded with back-to-back triples from guards, senior Clare Breden (Jerseyville, Ill.) and junior Chloe White (Brussels, Ill.) to give themselves the three-point advantage. Neff and fellow teammate sophomore guard Lexie White were able to tie the game at 18 a-piece, yet with 2:49 to go in the first quarter, the Bearcats reeled off an 8-0 run with the final six coming via Breden as the home squad would be up 26-18. 

Neither side was able to go on a run in the second period of play, but Bearcat freshman Kyra Taylor (Davenport, Iowa) notched in eight points in the quarter in what would increase the McKendree lead to 13 to be up comfortably at 44-31 at halftime. 

The Bulldogs took slight control of the third quarter with White and freshman guard Katelyn Odem each scoring half a dozen points within. However, McKendree's Taylor tallied another six points of her own as she and the Bearcats would hold steady with their lead, 57-48 at the end of period number three. 

Truman State banged in a three-pointer and drove it in for a layup to begin the final quarter of regulation to find themselves down by only five points. Then, McKendree went off for a seizing 12-0 that lasted for well over five minutes until the Bulldogs halted the run with five straight points of their own. With the conversion of intentional free throws down the stretch, the Bearcats would hang on to pick up their second straight win, 72-60. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Taylor led the Bearcats to victory with her career-high setting 22 points on a very efficient 10-13 shooting from the field while also corralling four rebounds (three offensive), dishing out a pair of assists, and collecting a steal. 

• Breden followed with 19 points which included going 6-7 from the free throw line while also snagging four rebounds along with three assists and steals. 

• Parks rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds and coming away with a pair of steals. 

• Only one player from Truman State scored in double figures, which was Lexie White, who scored 15 on 6-8 shooting and corralling a game-high nine rebounds and swiped away a pair of steals. 

• McKendree shot 50.0% from the field, 38.5% from distance, and 81.0% from the stripe while the Bulldogs ended with 38.6%, 20.8%, and 68.8% respectively. 

• Despite losing the conference matchup, Truman State was +3 in points off of turnovers, +4 in bench points, and +2 in points in the paint. 

• Both teams finished with seven second-chance points and two fast-break points each. 

• With her 39 minutes played, Breden now has a Division II program record in total minutes, surpassing Jordan Heberg, who had 3248 minutes played. 

UP NEXT

McKendree will be back in action on Thursday, January 16th, when they take on Drury University at the O'Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield, Missouri, with tip-off set for 5:45 PM CT. 

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