The Lindenwood women’s basketball team won 70-59 against the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars after two double-doubles kick-started an offensive surge in the second half.

After a difficult loss at Lewis University on Thursday night that featured a common theme of allowing middle-of-the-game runs from the opposing team, the Lions faced a similar struggle in the second quarter. The Lions were leading 19-8 going into the second, when the Prairie Stars held the Lions to 4-of-16 shooting and shot 7-of-13 themselves to only trail 28-25 at halftime.

The Lions responded by firing on all cylinders in the second half, particularly on defense. Throughout the game, the Lions held the Prairie Stars to 0-of-12 shooting from the three-point line.

In the second half, the Lions’ defense held the Prairie Stars to 14-of-36 shooting and forced 20 turnovers throughout the course of the game that created 20 points for the Lions offensively. Although the Lions were held to 11-of-27 shooting from the field, the team also shot 16-of-21 from the foul line in the second half.

Leading the charge for the Lions were Kallie Bildner and Kate Ruzevich. Bildner scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds; her ninth double-double of the season, while Ruzevich scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Both Devin Fuhring and Jaime Bain scored in double-figures. Fuhring scored 11 points and added five steals, while Bain tallied 10 points and shot 5-of-6 from the free throw line.

The win improving the Lions’ record to 10-6 on the season. The Lions will host McKendree University on Jan. 30 at Hyland Arena.