SOMERS, Wis. – Behind another huge performance from redshirt-junior Ali Bettencourt, Parkside women's basketball defeated McKendree at DeSimone Gymnasium 83-77 to improve to 2-1 in the conference and 6-2 at home this season.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @UWPAthletics

Bettencourt scored a career-high 26 points on a hot shooting night, as she finished 7-for-11 from the floor, 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and 8-of-10 at the free-throw line. She was key down the stretch for Parkside, going 4-for-4 from the line in the final :30 seconds and finished with 15 points in the second half.

The Rangers went to the half with a 42-33 advantage after leading by as many as 14 in the first half. Parkside opened the second quarter on a 14-5 run to lead 33-19 and never trailed again the rest of the way. In the second half, the Bearcats made things interesting, cutting it to a 4-point Ranger lead with just over :30 seconds remaining, but clutch free-throw shooting by the Rangers put a stop to the comeback.

Lucija Bilic also went for a career-high, scoring 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Carolina Rahkonen finished with 11 points. Georgie Eishold grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds while Alisha Murphy had a nice all-around game, finishing with nine points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Parkside will head to battle Missouri S&T this weekend, with tip-off slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6.