Box Score The wins are piling up like winter snow at the Hyland Arena as the Lindenwood women's basketball team claimed its fourth straight victory Thursday night.

Winners of just four games last season, the Lady Lions showed mental toughness and the resiliency to come back from an eight-point deficit in the first half against a veteran-led MIAA opponent. After thundering back to take a 37-36 lead at the break, the Lady Lions beat the University of Central Oklahoma 78-71 and improved to 5-2. It was the conference opener for both schools.

"I thought our shooting and offensive flow was off tonight," Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said. "Give Central Oklahoma credit, they were physical. We're in the conference now. X's and O's ,I can't say we did a lot of improving, but we showed mental toughness."

Senior Morgan Johnson led all scorers with 19 points and the Lady Lions guard helped offset nine Central Oklahoma three-point baskets by making 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Johnson scored seven straight points in a 38-second span in the first half to give the Lady Lions a 29-28 lead.

"Morgan has some personal things going on and she does a great job of compartmentalizing," Francis said of the Saint Louis University transfer. "That's why she did what she did tonight, she's mentally tough."

Senior Caroline Bourlioux scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Lady Lions before fouling out with 3 minutes 18 seconds left in the game. It was the sixth time this season Bourlioux surpassed 10 or more points in a game.

Freshman Kassidy Gengenbacher had 15 points and four steals in another strong start for the Lady Lions. Gengenbacher stole the ball in her own end, dribbled to the basket and scored to tie the Bronchos 31-31 with 2:26 left in the half.

A basket by senior Marissa Lehnig gave the Lady Lions a 35-34 lead with 1:14 in the half. Gengenbacher's next steal in front of her own bench led to two free throws by junior Julie Hlinak giving the Lady Lions their halftime edge. Lehnig's scoring pace has fallen off in the last two games, but she finished with eight steals, a career high.

The Lady Lions continued to build on their lead from the start of the second half. Gengenbacher had two baskets, sophomore Dru Haertling scored in between, Bourlioux had a basket and two free throws, and Hlinak and Johnson sank consecutive three-pointers to make it 54-42 Lady Lions with13:07 left.

A three-point basket by UCO sophomore Haley Weathers trimmed the Lady Lions lead to 68-64 with 1:36 remaining, but Haertling answered with a basket on a nice assist by Hlinak. The Lady Lions made four free throws in the final 27 seconds to wrap up the win.

"For the first 12 minutes of the second half, I thought we played great defense," Francis said. "But then in the last five minutes we were playing not to lose. We had some uncharacteristic turnovers and not running the offense the way they should, but the name of the game is to win."

The Lady Lions will put their four-game winning streak on the line Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hyland Arena against MIAA rival Northeastern State (Okla.).