WESTVILLE, Ind. - The Purdue University Northwest women's basketball team had an impressive second half comeback but the Pride ended up falling to McKendree University in overtime, 74-69, at the H.D. Kesling Gymnasium inside the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on Purdue Northwest's Westville Campus. 

The Bearcats (1-0) led the Pride (0-1) after the first quarter starting the game on a 15-0 run. Junior Shae Rhonehouse (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) helped cut into their deficit in the second quarter, as the Pride headed in to the locker room down 28-14.

PNW cut in to the Bearcats lead to 37-33 after a huge three pointer by Rhonehouse with 2:04 left in the third quarter but that was the closest the Pride got in the third. Junior Bayley Goodman (Fowler, Ind./Benton Central) hit a three to end the third quarter as time expired to carry momentum into the fourth. 

The fourth quarter was a different story and turned in PNW's favor.

The Pride started the quarter on a 10-0 run capped off by back-to-back three pointers by freshman Brittany Barnard (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) to give PNW the 46-45 edge for their first lead of the game with 6:55 left to go. McKendree regained the lead for the time being but PNW answered right back with another three by Rhonehouse gave PNW a 49-47 lead with 5:53 left.

Sophomore Danielle Nennig (Wrightstown, Wis./Wrightstown) had a huge basket with 30 seconds left to tie at 60-all. McKendree answered right back to give them a 62-60 lead with 10 seconds left.

Goodman received the ball off the inbound pass, drove the court and hit a huge jumper as time expired to send the game into overtime. 

McKendree took control of the overtime period but sophomore Lanie Allen (East Noble, Ind./East Noble) hit a huge free throw to tie the game at 69 with 52 seconds. However, The Bearcats ended the game on a 6-0 run to wrap up the game.

Rhonehouse led PNW with 22 points and seven rebounds on 7-15 shooting including 4-6 from deep. Barnard had a nice debut for the Pride, pitching in 17 points while also shooting 7-15 and 3-5 from deep and pulling down five rebounds. Goodman also added 12 points in the setback.

PNW returns to action Saturday, November 10 for the final day of the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge as the Pride take on Illinois-Springfield starting at 3 p.m. CT.