OWENSBORO, Ky. – McKendree made 24-of-39 (62 percent) shots in the opening 20 minutes to build a 57-41 lead and held off a furious D&E rally to claim a 104-95 win on Saturday.

Jorden Lykes led D&E with 15 points. Sharmaine Baker scored 13 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Aliyah Dukes scored 11 points, while Stephanie Wooten and Ashley Bowles each added 10 points.

Brittany Willis (26), Caty Ponce (21), Liz Gilman (17), Haeley Kreisel (11), Shannon McGinnis (10) and Ashley Klass (10) all reached double figures for the Bearcats.

MU held a 49-38 advantage on the glass. D&E turned 16 offensive rebounds into 21 second chance points.

Willis scored six points to ignite a 20-9 start by the Bearcats. Wooten sparked a 9-3 answer by the Senators, making the score 23-18. MU opened up a 40-20 advantage with a 17-2 jolt and would gradually extend the lead to as many as 27. D&E closed the half on an 11-0 run, making the score 57-41 at the break.

A Shanda Howell three sparked a 14-2 second half surge that pulled the Senators within 11 at 74-63. D&E pulled to within five at 96-91, but MU sank 10-of-12 free throws in the final minutes to seal the 104-95 victory.

D&E will face the Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday at 2 p.m. eastern time.