The Lindenwood women’s basketball team dropped their final out-of-conference game to the University of Nebraska at Omaha by a score of 73-66.
The Lions saw production up and down the lineup in the loss, with four different players putting up double-digit point totals. Justis Odom and Mya Skoff tied for the team lead with 16 each, with Gracy Wernli and Brooke Coffey each putting up 10. Four other Lions also put up points in the game, with Ellie Brueggemann and Alyssa Nielsen putting up four each, and Mykayla Cunninham and Gracie Kelsey with three.
Out of the gate, it was Lindenwood who put up the first points of the game and scored the most points in the quarter. Odom was responsible for the first score on a jumper, before quickly handing the lead over to Omaha on a three-point shot by Katie Keitges. The Lions put up 18 points in total in the quarter, with five from Wernli and four from Odom. The defense allowed 16 in that timeframe. Shooting the ball, Lindenwood made half of their field goal attempts, two-thirds of their three-point attempts, and three-fourths of their free throws.
In the second half, the Lions put up their lowest offensive numbers of the game and allowed their most points on defense. Skoff was responsible for half of those points on offense, putting up five. Odom added three more of her own as well, with Cunningham recording the other two. Lindenwood only shot four for 13 from field goal range and one for six at three-point range in the second period. They also only made one of three attempted free throws.
After halftime the Lindenwood offense corrected itself, scoring 22 points in the third quarter, their most in the game. However, after allowing 18 points defensively, the difference was narrowed to just five points, 56-51 going into the final quarter of play. Scoring was led by Coffey, Skoff, and Odom in the quarter, with Coffey putting up seven points, and Skoff adding five. The team shot 53% from the field goal range, and 40% from the three-point range in the third quarter. They also made four of their six free throw attempts.
In the final quarter of play, both teams reverted back to their first quarter play, with Omaha putting up 17 points to Lindenwood’s 15. It was again Skoff who led the way with six points offensively in the quarter while playing strong defense. As a whole, though the team struggled from field goal range, only making 35% of their shots. They also had their lowest three-point percentage of the game, at 14, while making two of their six attempted free throws.
Defensively, Odom led the team in rebounds with eight, with Aalayah Wilson and Coffey each recording four for second most of the team.
The loss now moves the team to 4-5 on the season, and will now begin Ohio Valley Conference play with two straight home games next week. They welcome Tennessee Tech to campus next Thursday at 5 p.m., and Western Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m.
