LEBANON, IL – McKendree University conquered the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's basketball team in a 79-72 victory during Saturday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup.
 
The Bearcats (5-6, 1-3) entered halftime with a 43-28 lead and the Prairie Stars (8-4, 2-2) were unable to overcome the deficit. McKendree led UIS 21-13 after the first quarter. The Prairie Stars cut their deficit to 62-51 through three quarters and outscored McKendree 21-17 in the fourth quarter. UIS managed to trim the lead to five points in the fourth quarter but ran out of time.
 
McKendree cleaned up the glass, finishing with a 52-37 rebounding advantage over UIS.
 
During the first half, the Bearcats converted 18-of-35 (51.43 percent) shots from the field.
 
Brianna Mefford posted a career-high 12 points while Chasitee Shroyer netted a season-high 12 points to pace the Prairie Stars. Mefford hit 6-of-8 (75 percent) shots from the floor.
 
Destiny Ramsey and Shelbi Patterson recorded 11 points each. Patterson also dished out six assists. Jasmine Sangster turned in six points. Tehya Fortune slated five points. Katelyn Rosner and Reje Pitchford contributed four points apiece. Grace Weber added three points. Val Meissner and Gabrielle Sanders rounded out the UIS scoring effort with two points apiece. Fortune and Mefford led the Prairie Stars with five boards apiece.
 
Jordan Heberg turned in 19 points to lead the Bearcats. Jordan Morton turned in a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Callie Pohlman notched 14 points. Madison Hart tallied 11 points and eight rebounds. Shayli Florine delivered nine rebounds and two blocks.
 
The Bearcats drained 28-of-62 (45.2 percent) shots from the floor and 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) attempts from 3-point range. UIS hit 28-of-71 (39.4 percent) shots from the field and 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) shots from the perimeter.
 
McKendree made 20-of-34 (58.8 percent) shots from the free-throw line while UIS knocked down 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) attempts from the charity stripe.
 
The Bearcats outscored the Prairie Stars 8-0 on fast-break points.
 
Patterson moved to second in UIS Division II history with 371 career field goals made. Rosner ranks fourth among UIS Division II single-season leaders with 28 blocks. Among UIS Division II career leaders, Ramsey ranks eighth in offensive rebounds (93), ninth in field goals made (185) and 10th in points (473).
 
UIS faces off with the University of Missouri-St. Louis (7-4, 1-3) in GLVC play next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in TRAC. The Prairie Stars invade Quincy, IL as they take on Quincy University (5-9, 1-4) in a conference matchup next Saturday at 1 p.m.