The Lindenwood women's basketball team lost its first game in more than a month Friday in Nebraska.

The Lady Lions six-game winning streak ended with a 78-71 loss to University of Nebraska-Kearney at Health and Sports Center. The Lady Lions fell to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA. The Lopers improved to 5-5 and 2-2.

"Our kids showed guts and didn't quit," Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said. "We came out sluggish in the second half but kept fighting. We didn't play well and have to take a game like this and learn from it."

Despite the loss, four Lady Lions scored in double figures, although their 35.4 percent shooting from the field against the Lopers was well below their season average of 48 percent. Senior Caroline Bourlioux led the Lady Lions with 18 points and nine rebounds. Senior Marissa Lehnig and sophomore Jenny Rocha scored 17 points and freshman Kassidy Gengenbacher had 12 points.

"(Bourlioux) went up against two big bodies tonight, both girls were 6-2 or 6-3, and she got banged around," Francis said.

Sophomore guard Laramey Lewis led the Lopers with 19 points. Lewis was averaging eight points going into the game. Freshman forward Kelsey Fitzgerald (12 points) was the other Loper to finish in double figures.

Fitzgerald fouled Lehnig with 59 seconds left in the game, and Lehnig sank both free throws which cut the Lopers lead to 70-68. The Lopers took care of business from the free-throw line in the last minute and finished 28 of 45 from the line. The Lady Lions made 23 of 29 free throws.

Gengenbacher and junior Morgan Johnson fouled out against the Lopers. Johnson was held scoreless in just seven minutes of play, but she had four rebounds in limited action.

The Lady Lions don't have the time to fret over their first loss since before Thanksgiving because they travel from Kearney, Neb. To Topeka, Kan. To face MIAA rival Washburn Sunday at 1 p.m. It's the last game in 2013 for the Lady Lions who are off until Jan. 4.

The Lady Lions ring in 2014 with a MIAA game against Pittsburg State at Hyland Arena.