Box Score
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Box Score

SOMERS, Wis. (Jan. 18, 2014)-- Scoring the final eight points of the game, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's basketball squad escaped the Statham Center with a victory, downing McKendree University 64-54 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division showdown featuring 12 lead changes and 12 ties.

The Rangers (5-9, 1-5 GLVC) held a 56-54 advantage with 1:23 left in the game before holding the host Bearcats (6-8, 1-5 GLVC) scoreless the rest of the way en route to the double-digit victory. McKendree misfired on its final five shots of the afternoon while the Rangers sunk six straight free throws before getting a late bucket from Tara Knapstein to account for the final margin.

Neither squad led by more than five points in a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes of play with UW-Parkside taking a 29-28 lead into the halftime break. The lead exchanged hands six times in the opening half of play while the score was tied on seven occasions.

UW-Parkside led by three with 18:09 left in the second half before the Bearcats stormed back, mounting an 11-3 run over the next four minutes to secure a five-point advantage. A Sarah Mlachnik three-pointer with 9:01 left equalized the score at 45 before a pair of Maddie Johnston free throws gave the lead back to UW-Parkside. McKendree briefly reclaimed the lead before the Rangers went ahead for good with 3:59 left after Knapstein buried a pair of free throws.

Gaby Bronson shot seven-for-10 from the floor, pacing the Rangers with 20 points, five assists and three blocks. Knapsetin added 18 points and three blocks while Maddie Johnston dropped 13 points and six rebounds. Mlachnik tallied a season-high nine points while grabbing five boards.

Brittamy Willis led McKendree with 18 points while Emily Pusheck ad Caty Ponce added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Amber Alexander led the Bearcats on the boards, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.

UW-Parkside collected a season-high 11 blocks on the afternoon while shooting 90.9 percent (20-for-22) from the charity stripe. The Rangers owned a 30-16 edge in points in the paint while enjoying a 14-10 advantage in second chance points.

Parkside returns to action on Monday afternoon, hosting Lewis University at 5:30 p.m. inside DeSimone Gymnasium.