On a day that saw over 300 local elementary school students in the stands as a part of Education Day, the Lindenwood women’s basketball team defeated the Harris-Stowe State University Hornets 87-61.
The Lions saw points scored by every player that touched the court in the win, including four separate Lions with double-digit efforts. Gracy Wernli and Ellie Brueggemann led the way for Lindenwood, scoring 13 points each. Brooke Coffey, 12, and Aalayah Wilson, 11, also reached the double-digit mark in the game for the Lions.
The game was ultimately decided in the first minute of play, as Lindenwood took the lead with nine minutes on the clock in the first period and never looked back. Brueggemann put Lindenwood on the board first with a two-point shot after a rebound from Coffey within the first 15 seconds after tipoff. The Hornets’ Tyara Davis quickly tied the game on a layup, two a piece. It was Coffey again who ultimately put the Lions up for good 30 seconds later, scoring two points on a fast break layup. By the end of the quarter, Lindenwood had a 23-11 lead, with Coffey leading the way with eight points in the first period. Mariah Stewart added four, Brueggemann had five, and Wernli, Alyssa Nielsen, and Mykayla Cunningham each added two points before the first game break.
When both teams came back to the court for the second period, it was Harris-Stowe who had the momentum. The Hornets were able to close the score significantly after scoring 29 points in the 10-minute quarter. However, the Lindenwood offense was not kept quiet either, scoring 21 points of their own to combine for a 50-point half across the board. The Lions did strike first blood, adding six points before Harris-Stowe could add one of their own. This was largely in part to four successful free throws, with Justis Odom and Wernli each adding two. Odom was also able to make a successful layup in that time frame. Wernli would add a three-point shot to her record before the Hornets would go on a run in the last five minutes of the quarter. The team would score 13 times in five minutes, making the score 44-40 as both teams went into their respective locker rooms at halftime. Wernli led the quarter for Lindenwood with seven points, with Odom scoring six, and Cunningham adding four points. Brueggemann and Mya Skoff each had two points in the second quarter.
After switching sides and returning to the court after halftime, the Lindenwood defense found its footing once again, and the offense kept the same pace it had set in the first half. Lindenwood scored 18 points in the third quarter, right on par with their first two quarters, despite being their lowest-scoring quarter of the game. The defense, however, would only allow nine points to the Hornets in the 10-minute period. Coffey would score the first four points of the quarter on consecutive possessions, on a jumper and a layup both from the paint. Despite being the only four points Coffey scored in the third, the team still added 14 more. Wernli and Skoff were each able score four of her own, with Odom, Stewart and Wilson each scoring two. Cunningham also scored a single point on a successful free-throw attempt, which marked the last score of the quarter for Lindenwood, who led 62-49 going into the last quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions saw their most dominant offensive play of the game, scoring 25 times in 10 minutes. The defense again kept pace, keeping the Hornets to just 12 points. Lindenwood started off strong once again, scoring six points before Harris-Stowe could score once. Brueggemann was able to score four points on consecutive possessions, the final two on a fast break. Then, Nielsen added two points on successful free throws. Brueggemann would add another jump throw two-pointer, before the Lions’ subbed out their starters and endured a two minute scoring lull. Despite not playing those starters, Lindenwood was able to score 17 more points, showing the true team effort in the win. Led by Wilson who had nine in the quarter, seven different Lions scored in the final 10 minutes of play. Brueggemann added six to her game total, with Kiara Smith, Mary McGrath, Tiana Winn, Skoff and Nielsen each adding two more before the final buzzer sounded.
On the season, Lindenwood improves to 2-1, only losing their opener against the University of Kansas after three games. The team now welcomes the University of Evansville to the Hyland Arena on Monday, Nov. 18. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 6 p.m. that evening.
