Box Score Despite racing out to a 11-0 lead 3 minutes 6 seconds into its season opener and leading by seven points at halftime Saturday, the Lindenwood University women's basketball team couldn't contain last year's Great American Conference Freshman of the Year.

University of Arkansas at Monticello sophomore Jordan Goforth, a 5-foot-9 forward from Plano, Texas, scorched the Lady Lions (0-1) with a game-high 28 points to lead the host Cotton Blossoms to an 84-74 non-conference win at Steelman Fieldhouse.

"Our on-ball defense was not that good, and for whatever reason, as the game wore on, their guards started to play really aggressive," Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said. "Our perimeter defense let us down."

After Lindenwood junior guard Julie Hlinak gave the Lady Lions a 11-0 lead, the Cotton Blossoms slowly began to chip away. The Lady Lions led the entire first half and sophomore guard Jenny Rocha's layup with 3:13 left boosted their lead to 30-21. Senior guard Marissa Lehnig, the Lady Lions leading scorer in their two preseason games, made a basket and free throw to close out the first-half scoring.

Sophomore guard Tamia Grady started sinking three-point baskets in the second half for the Blossoms, and her three-pointer with 17:41 left in the game lifted them to a 38-37 lead. Sophomore guard Dru Haertling followed a Hlinak jumper with a basket to give the Lady Lions a 43-42 lead. It would be their last as Grady sank another three-pointer and finished with 26 points, five rebounds and four assists.

"After the game in the locker room, the girls admitted they were tougher than us," Francis said. "We all share in the responsibility. Maybe we were pressing a little, but we missed too many inside shots and layups in the second half."

Nine Lindenwood players scored and four reached double digits. Lehnig led the Lady Lions with 16 points. Senior forward Caroline Bourlioux had 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds, Rocha had 10 points and four assists, and junior guard Morgan Johnson had 10 points and six rebounds.

Both teams were proficient from the field. The Blossoms (1-0) shot a stunning 60 percent from the field and were 9 of 15 from three-point range. The Blossoms attacked the Lady Lions from every angle. Lindenwood kept up by shooting 50 percent (32 of 64) from the field.

As the Lady Lions tried to come back in the second half, the Blossoms built a sizeable edge from the free-throw line, making 17 of 28 (61 percent). The Lady Lions made 6 of 10 free throws.

Bourlioux cut the Blossoms lead to 57-55 with 8:32 left, but a 8-0 run led by Goforth held the Lady Lions off.

The Lady Lions travel to Memphis, Tenn. Monday to play LeMoyne-Owen College. Tip off is 7 p.m.

"Physically, we played hard," Francis said. "Our mental intensity was up and down. We're blending in freshmen and new players. The girls want to win. They realize what they need to do."