Lebanon, Ill.  – Faith Hawthorne tallied a career-high 20 points but the Maryville women's basketball team dropped its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener at McKendree. The Bearcats pulled away late in the fourth quarter for a 79-69 win to remain undefeated. Gracie Stugart again flirted with a triple-double and finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints led 22-21 after the opening quarter, and Hawthorne scored the first five points to start the second for a 27-23 edge. McKendree took a narrow lead before Annika Pluemer scored off a feed from Stugart and Olivia Hahn sank a wing jumper to go back ahead 36-33. The Bearcats tied the score at 38-38 until Stugart took over. She drew a foul and converted both at the line. Stugart scored on a drive down the lane, and the Saints came up with a steal. She hit a mid-range jumper at the Saints went ahead 44-38 at the break. Maryville held McKendree scoreless over the final 2:02 before halftime.
 
Hawthorne scored inside to push the Saints up 50-45 midway through the third but the Bearcats knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to take a one-point lead. Stugart put the Saints back ahead 54-53 at the 2:35 mark until McKendree scored five straight. The Bearcats took a 60-58 edge into the final 10 minutes. Hawthorne drained a jumper to tie the game at 60-all but McKendree tallied the next seven points to build a 67-60 advantage. The Saints back within six points but the Bearcats held on to keep a perfect ledger.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Faith Hawthorne - 20
Rebounds: Gracie Stugart - 8
Assists: Gracie Stugart - 8
3-Pointers: Olivia Hahn and Annika Pluemer - 2
Steals: Adylan Ayer - 2
Blocked Shots: three players - 1
 
RECORDS:
Maryville: 1-5, 0-1 GLVC
McKendree: 5-0, 1-0 GLVC
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Saints return to play Monday, Dec. 2, as they make the trek to the north side to take on city-rival Missouri-St. Louis. Tip time in the Mark Twain Building is 5:30 p.m. Read Full Article