The Lindenwood women’s basketball team earned their first of the season with a 64-56 over Bradley University to improve to 1-1 on the young season.
The Lions overcame a 46-45 deficit at the end of the third quarter, outsourcing Bradley 19-10 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win. Three different Lions scored in double figures on Tuesday, led by Ellie Brueggeman, with 15 points, shooting 3/4 from deep, with three assists and two rebounds. Brooke Coffey chipped in with 11 points and 12 rebounds to tally her first double-double in a Lions uniform. She also led the team with three steals on the night. Justis Odom also had 10 points and five rebounds for the Lions.
As a team, Lindenwood shot 47.9% from the field and held Bradley to only 35.5% while also outshooting them from deep. The Lions were 4/12 from three-point range while the Braves shot only 4/25 from long-range distance. The Lions scored 20 points off Bradley’s 17 turnovers and had 10 fast-break points. 32 of the Lions’ 64 points were in the paint, including six from center Mariah Stewart. Stewart shot 3/4 from the field, grabbed two rebounds, and had a block. It was also a bit of a sloppy game for the Lions, who also had 17 turnovers during the game after having 14 in their season opener at Kansas. Lindenwood was able to get to the free-throw line 20 times during the game but only was able to convert on 14 of those attempts.
Lindenwood held an 18-14 advantage after the first quarter. 12 of Lindenwood’s 18 points were scored in the paint. Both teams scored 32 points in the paint on the night while the Lions were able to outrebound the Braves 31-30. Lindenwood held Bradley to only 1/6 from downtown in the first quarter. Bradley cut the lead to four points with 7:30 left in the second quarter at 23-19. The Lions then went on a 10-0 run opening up the game to a 14-point lead. Odom and Coffey both scored four points during that stretch. The Braves were able to end the quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the Lions’ lead to six heading into halftime.
Bradley’s offense came out on fire in the third quarter, going on a 12-5 run to start the period and taking the lead at 40-39 with 5:15 left to play in the third. Lindenwood struggled from the field coming out of the break shooting only 2/9 from the field, and by the time the third quarter was over, would only have made five baskets in the entirety of the quarter. However, the Lions didn’t waver and scored 11 points in the first four minutes of the fourth to regain the lead at 56-48. Lindenwood was efficient in the fourth shooting 4-6 from the floor and 8-8 at the foul line as they were able to close out the game and beat Bradley 64-56.
Lindenwood continues their homestand on Nov. 15 as the Lions host Harris-Stowe University for Kids Day (Education Day) at 11 a.m., before wrapping up their 3-game homestand on Nov. 18 when they host the University of Evansville at 6 p.m. Both games can be streamed on ESPN+.
