LEBANON, Ill. – The women's basketball team wrapped up their season on senior day with a big win against Southwest Baptist University on Saturday, March 1st in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) action at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon, Illinois.
Score: McKendree University 81, Southwest Baptist University 56
Record: McK Bearcats 15-11, 11-9 GLVC | SBU Bearcats 8-18, 6-14 GLVC
HOW IT HAPPENED
Southwest Baptist kicked things off with back-to-back three-pointers to be up in the early goings and was not until freshman forward Kyra Taylor (Davenport, Iowa) got McKendree on the board with a lay-in soon after. SBU would momentarily up their lead to seven, but McKendree would soon then reel off a game-altering 18 points straight with Kyra Taylor and fellow freshman forward Taylor Fohey (Quincy, Ill.) contributing five and six respectively. SBU got a couple of jumpers to fall from senior forward Khylee Massey with home squad still up at the end of the first period of play, 22-15.
A 13-2 run by McKendree – utilized by a pair of shots from beyond the arc by senior guard Maci Meyer (Hubertus, Wis.) – propelled her team to a huge 18-point lead almost midway through the second quarter. SBU would yet to give up, as they converted on the next 12 points of the contest to cut their large deficit to just six. Kyra Taylor was still the point of attack for the home Bearcats, where she dropped in five more points in the final three and a half minutes to hold a 44-35 lead heading into halftime.
McKendree remained in total control of the third period of play as they allowed only 10 points within by SBU, whereas McKendree notched in 25, including eight more from Kyra Taylor and nine points from sophomore forward Baylie Parks (Lake Zurich, Ill.) as the team shot 64.7% from the floor with McKendree still up front by large at 69-45 at the end of the quarter.
In the final quarter of regulation, the game would slow down for the two Bearcat squads where the scoring margin would be hardly impacted. A plethora of McKendree's bench would see the final moments of the year on the hardwoods as they would go on to win big in their season finale 81-56.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
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Parks was not too far behind with 21 points with an 11-12 mark from the charity stripe and an abundant game-high 16 rebounds (4 offensive) along obtaining game-highs in six assists, five steals, and two blocks.
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McKendree shot 43.3% from the field, 14.3% from distance, and 76.9% from the stripe, while SBU ended with 41.1%, 17.6%, and 46.7% respectively.
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McKendree was +19 in points off of turnovers, +3 in bench points, +16 in points inside the paint, +6 in second-chance points, and +14 in fast break points.
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Parks has scored in double-digits (11+ points) in all 26 games for the team this season. With already having a GLVC-best 14 double-doubles, she has also corralled 15+ rebounds six times, including each of the last two outings.
SENIOR DAY
McKendree University Athletics took a moment to recognize three soon-to-be Bearcat graduates from the women's basketball program in guards Clare Breden (Jerseyville, Ill.), Maci Meyer (Hubertus, Wis.), and Imani McNamee (O'Fallon, Ill.) where these individuals showed determination, heart, and grit these past several years. As their time at McKendree may be coming to a close, they will forever be engraved as part of the Bearcat family.
UP NEXT
That will conclude the women's basketball 2024-25 season. McKendree University Athletics would like to thank the program and its fans for a memorable season and look forward to what is to come in the future.
The 2025-26 season schedule will be expected to be released in the fall of 2025.
For more updates and information on Bearcat Athletics, please continue to visit McKBearcats.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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