Lindenwood women’s basketball (23-11, 16-4 OVC) season came to an end on Wednesday in the Super 16 round of the WNIT as the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (18-15, 8-10 CUSA) beat the Lions 68-64.
The loss ends the most successful season in Lindenwood women’s basketball history at the Division I level, as the team finishes with 23 wins, the most in their NCAA era. It also caps off a remarkably successful year two under head coach Amy Eagan.
Ellie Brueggemann led the Lions in the loss with 18 points, as all five Lions starters scored in double figures and the Lions starters combined for 62 of Lindenwood’s 64 points. Brueggemann was only 2/10 from behind the arc as Lindenwood was held to 6/24 from three-point range as a team.
Brooke Coffey and Mya Skoff each had 12 points with both knocking down a pair of three pointers. Coffey also racked up nine rebounds and dished out four assists, each team highs.
Mykayla Cunningham, making her first start since early December, tallied 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals along with Gracie Kelsey who had a very well-rounded game chipping in with 10 points of her own while also grabbing seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block.
Louisiana Tech took a quick 6-0 lead to begin the game before Lindenwood stormed back and took their first lead at 9-8 after a Brueggemann three. Both teams continued to trade baskets in the first quarter before a Coffey three put Lindenwood up 18-15 at the end of the first.
Coffey kept the hot hand in the second knocking down a pair of jumpers as Lindenwood ran their lead up to seven at 26-19 after back-to-back layups from Mariah Stewart and Kelsey. Louisiana Tech cut the lead back to four at 28-24 before the Lions roared back with a 7-0 run capped by a Skoff three and a Brueggemann jumper to give Lindenwood their largest lead of the game at 11 at 35-24. Paris Bradley hit a three to stop the bleeding for the Lady Techsters before Cunningham hit a tough layup to give Lindenwood a 37-27 lead heading into the locker room.
Lindenwood led 41-31 early in the third before the Lady Techsters caught fire and went on an 11-0 run to take a 42-41 lead with 5:12 left, their first lead since the first quarter. A Coffey three nailed a three pointer to stop the run and retake the lead for Lindenwood. Louisiana Tech would respond by clamping down the Lions on defense and continuing to score as they led 51-48 at the end of the third. Louisiana Tech outscored Lindenwood 24-11 in the third.
Skoff tied the game at 55 with 8:21 left after draining a three pointer as the Lions tried to claw their way back in front. Louisiana Tech buckled down and kept the Lions at bay having an answer for any bucket as both teams went cold midway through the fourth. Brueggemann hit her second three of the game with 2:55 left to cut the lead to one at 61-60 but Jordan Marshall responded for Louisiana Tech with a pair of free throws. Cunningham and Brueggemann both hit layups for Lindenwood but yet again the Lady Techsters had the answer with Bradley and Robyn Lee each swishing jumpers, the latter coming with 40 seconds left and putting Louisiana Tech back up three at 67-64.
Lindenwood called timeout to set up a potential game tying shot. Louisiana Tech clamped down on Lindenwood and as the shot clock winded down Brueggemann was forced to heave a desperation shot from the logo that clanged off the side of the rim and Sydney Thomas hauled in the rebound. A Bradley free throw sealed the game as Louisiana Tech hung on for a 68-64 win and advanced to the Great Eight.
This loss closes the door on another women’s basketball season that was filled with incredible moments and now we’ll have to wait to watch them again for another eight months.
