LEBANON, Ill. - Thank goodness for Melly Heaton and Corin Dunn.

Heaton, a senior guard from Princeton, Ky., kept the Lady Tigers in the game during the first 20 minutes of play and helped lead a comeback that boosted CU to its fourth victory, 79-76, over McKendree University.



All Dunn, a junior from Lexington, did was grab the biggest rebound of her life with under 10 seconds to go to keep the ball out of McKendree's hands.

"Melly was huge for us," said coach Ginger Colvin. "We found a way to win and she was a big reason we did."

Heaton did most of her damage in the first half, scoring 14 points. But it was two titanic 3s to end the first half that allowed the Lady Tigers to cut a 41-27 deficit to 41-33 at the break. Heaton ended the game with 17 points, with four of CU's eight 3s. She also had six rebounds and five assists.

"She was exhausted at the end," said Colvin, after Heaton missed three out of four free throws with under eight seconds to go.

On Dunn's rebound: "That was a game-winner for us," said Colvin. "She defended her player and then went and got it."

Campbellsville caught McKendree (2-6) at 56-56 with 11:40 to go when Courtney Danis completed a four-point play while being fouled making a 3-pointer.

"We had a lot of kids play hard. They (McKendree) don't have a good record, but they have a really good team," offered Colvin.

The Lady Tiger's All-American, Whitney Ballinger, was shackled with foul trouble early in the first half and McKendree built a15-point lead. Ballinger was whistled for her fifth foul at the 3:56 mark and was assessed a technical as well.

McKendree closed to within four at that juncture, got as close at two, 76-74 and 78-76, but a layup by Mackenzie Lee and a shot by Danis kept the home team at bay.

Ballinger logged only 23 minutes, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

The Lady Tiger will play Missouri Baptist College at 6:00 Saturday in their second game in the McKendree Classic.

McKendree (76) -  Fullerton 21, O'Connell 1, Frazier 2, Voss 11, Harris 13, Steinmetz 6, Woelfel 14, Dressler 8. Totals 23-54 28-39 76.
Lady Tigers (79) - Lee 12, Heaton 17, Danis 10, Clifton 15, Ballinger 20, Thomas 5. Totals 21-64 17-22 79.
Half-time - McKendree 41-33.
Three-point goals - McKendree 2-12, Campbellsville 8-20 (Heaton 4, Thomas 1, Clifton 2, Danis 1).
Rebounds - McKendree 37, Campbellsville 38 (Ballinger  9, Heaton 5).