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Junior guard Becka McHenry (Fraser, Mich., Fraser) notched her third straight 20+ point game, and a relentless Bulldog defense forced 22 turnovers as the Truman women’s basketball team coasted to a 77-55 road non-conference victory at McKendree (Ill.) on Saturday night.
 
After adding the Bearcats (7-18) during the preseason due to an MIAA-scheduled idle night, the Bulldogs (13-8) never trailed in picking up a 22-point victory.

 Truman got out to an 8-0 lead and led by as many as 17 during a first half that saw the Bulldogs pour in 24 points in the paint and get 18 points from McHenry.
 
The Bulldogs were never threatened in the second half, allowing head coach Michael Smith to get nine players at least 12 minutes of action apiece for the game.

McHenry finished with a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and two assists - hitting 9-of-12 field goals and a pair of free throws.

Junior Megan Sharpe (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville) scored 10 points and added eight rebounds, while senior Jenny Dorman (Pella, Iowa, Pella) chipped in nine points and six rebounds in a season-high 30 minutes.
 
Truman shot 44% (33-for-75) for the game and outrebounded MCK 45-33.

The squad closed the nonconference portion of the season with a perfect 6-0 record, including a 3-0 mark against GLVC teams.

 In addition, the Bulldogs won their 13th game – the most since the 2007-08 season – with four regular season MIAA games to play.
 
Saturday’s MIAA action benefited the Bulldogs, as Truman moved forward into a tie for sixth with Lincoln (Mo.) following the Blue Tigers’ loss at conference-leading Pittsburg (Kan.) State.

The Bulldogs sit two games behind Fort Hays (Kan.) State for fifth but are now three full games ahead of Missouri Western for eighth place following the Griffons’ overtime loss at Northwest Missouri.
 
The Bulldogs will next host Northwest Missouri on Wednesday (Feb. 15) night at 5:30 pm in Pershing Arena. Truman will be looking to avenge a 58-57 road loss to the Bearcats (5-19, 3-13 MIAA) earlier this season.

Courtesy Truman State University