Box Score Led by Sarah Schnieders' 21 points, the Lindenwood women's basketball team fell in a heartbreaker at home to Missouri Southern on Thursday night by a score of 78-74.
 
The Lady Lions took command of the game early, jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the first two minutes. Missouri Southern would tie up the game at six-all before Lindenwood proceeded to answer back with an 11-5 run. Lindenwood increased its lead to as many as seven with 7:21 left in the half.
 
Missouri Southern retaliated once again, regaining the lead with 5:07 left in the half. The remainder of the half seesawed back-and-forth as the teams exchanged the lead seven times. Lindenwood went into the locker rooms down by one at 36-37.
 
In the first half, the Lady Lions produced 20 points in the paint compared to 12 by Missouri Southern. Lindenwood also held Missouri Southern to single-digit rebounds with nine while snatching 18 of its own.
 
Missouri Southern started the second half on a 7-0 run in the first two and half minutes. Lindenwood reduced the visitors lead to one at the 14:39 mark, but got down by as many as seven just moments later.
 
Down 66-58 with 5:44 left in the game, a lay-up and free throw by Schnieders sparked an 11-3 Lindenwood run. The Lady Lions tied up the game after a three-pointer by sophomore Julie Hlinak.  Schnieders made another lay-up 37 seconds later to take over the lead once again at 69-67.
 
A lay-up and jumper by Missouri Southern's Erin Rice right after the Lindenwood run proved to be the final time that the Lady Lions would have control of the lead. Rice's jumper put Missouri Southern up two with 2:09 remaining in the game. Missouri Southern's final four points came from the charity stripe.
 
Lindenwood shot 50.9 percent from the floor while Missouri Southern shot at a 53.3 percent clip. The Lady Lions won the rebound battle 30-28, but turned the ball over 21 times compared to 17. Missouri Southern edged out Lindenwood at the line, going 24-for-32 while the Lady Lions went 14-for-26.
 
Along with Schnieders, three Lindenwood players scored double-digit points. Bourlioux contributed 18, Hlinak had 13 and Marissa Lehnig added 11 of her own. Bourlioux led the team with six rebounds.
 
The Lady Lions fall to 3-9 overall and 0-4 in the MIAA. Lindenwood will host Central Oklahoma on Saturday, January 12 at 1 p.m. at Hyland Arena.