Lindenwood women’s basketball (8-6, 4-1 OVC) took care of business Thursday Night over the Tennessee State Tigers (4-11, 0-5 OVC) to improve to 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference this year with a 68-54 win.
The Lions maintain ground in the OVC standings, and enter a tie for second place with Southern Indiana and Little Rock. Three different Lions scored in double figures led by Ellie Brueggemman’s 14 points, including four triples. Brooke Coffey picked up her second double-double of the season after tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds. Justis Odom was the final Lion in double figures tallying 10 points, and also leading the team with four assists. Lindenwood’s bench aided in the win, tallying 22 points as a unit, led by Alyssa Nielsen’s nine points. Mykayla Cunningham also added six points, three rebounds, and four assists in the win. The Lions’ defense also shined in the win as they turned the Tigers over 20 times resulting in 19 points for Lindenwood. Lindenwood overcame a season-high 24 turnovers of their own and held the Tigers to 29% shooting from the field and 23% from three.
The Lions got off to a hot start in the first quarter making their first four shots of the game taking a quick 10-5 lead. Both teams would trade buckets before Aaniya Webb drilled a three for Tennessee State to cut their deficit to 15-12. Lindenwood however, would go on an 8-0 run to end the quarter on a couple of threes from Brueggemann and a pair of free throws from Gracy Wernli. Brueggemann had a team-high eight points after 10 minutes while Lindenwood shot 61.5% from the field.
The Lions didn’t look back in the second quarter, as they extended their lead to 27-12 with 4:27 to go in the second quarter before Tennessee State finally broke their scoring drought with a layup from Saniah Parker. Lindenwood would take a 37-18 lead into the break as the Lions held the Tigers to just six points in the second half. The Lions held the Tigers to 11% shooting in the second quarter.
Tennessee State came out with some fire in the third quarter and went on a 9-6 run to begin the second half with 4:20 left in the third. With 3:16 left, XaiOnna Whitfield made a three-pointer to cut the lead to 11, the closest Tennessee State had gotten since the first quarter. The Lions ended the quarter on an 8-3 run behind buckets from Gracie Kelsey, Mya Skoff, and a three-pointer from Brueggemann to close out the quarter and push their lead back to 16 points at 53-47.
Lindenwood stretched their lead to 24 with 6:33 left following a Mary McGrath jumper and would do it again with 3:31 left after a Nielsen layup. However, Tennessee State and their full-court pressure would not go quietly and would force four Lions turnovers in the last two minutes to cut the lead down to 14 but it would be too little too late as the Lions would finish out a 68-54 victory and improve to 4-1 in the OVC.
Lindenwood will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 11th as the Lions host UT Martin on Alumni day and close out a short two-game homestand.
