Lebanon, Ill. – The Missouri Southern women's basketball team tied it up at 54-54 with three minutes left in regulation, but was not able to get over the hump as the McKendree Bearcats held on for a 63-61 victory inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center Sunday afternoon.
 
Junior center Zoe Campbell registered 16 points (6-for-9), seven rebounds, five blocks, and two assists and steals. Campbell now stands fourth all-time in school history with 71 blocks after eclipsing Marie Scott (67) after her second block of the contest. 
 
Senior forward Chasidee Owens added 15 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double as a Lion and first on the season. Sophomore Guard Layne Skiles poured in ten points while Destiny Cozart recorded nine. Red-shirt freshman Madi Stokes logged seven points and eight rebounds in the loss. 
 
The Lions (1-4) early the first period traded basket-for-basket with the Bearcats to be down 16-15 with 1:52 to go in the opening period. The Bearcats (4-0) created a small 4-0 run to extend their lead to five (20-15) heading into the second period. 
 
Southern battled back to get within three, but McKendree pushed forward by going on a 9-2 run capped off on a three-point shot at the 2:55 mark (32-23)as the clock ran with neither team making a basket since that time to close the first half. 
 
Mckendree stretched its advantage to as much as 11 out of the break and came out of the third period up six. Two made baskets from Owens and a three-pointer by Campbell gave the Lions their first lead since the first period (50-49) with 6:07 left regulation and held it for about three minutes until the Bearcats tied it up at 54-54 and secured the victory in the final minutes of the contest. 

Missouri Southern continues onto the second half of the four-game road trip against Rogers State Hillcats next Saturday at 2:00 pm.