Box Score The sign of a good team in any sport is how its players react when one of their leaders is injured during a game.

When senior forward Caroline Bourlioux had to be helped from the floor with 13 minutes 37 seconds left in the second half, Saturday's MIAA game against Northeastern State University (Okla.) at Hyland Arena was still very much in the balance.

The Lady Lions trailed 35-34 until Bourlioux's substitute, freshman Bre Zanders, made a field goal to give them a 36-35 lead. Bourlioux didn't return to the game, but her teammates were unrelenting in holding onto the lead and the Lady Lions beat the RiverHawks 63-50.

"This is what every good team does, and we're trying to learn to be a good team," Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said. "When one of your better players goes down, somebody else has to step up. At the defensive end, we got some rebounds and contested some shots and pushed down the floor for some nice layups and a kickout three-pointer to Kassidy (Gengenbacher)."

It was the fifth straight win for the Lady Lions (6-2) who improved to 2-0 in the MIAA. The RiverHawks entered the game on their own four-game winning streak and fell to 4-5, 1-1. The Lady Lions are off until they host Missouri S&T Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.

Senior Morgan Johnson, 14 points, led the Lady Lions in scoring for the second straight game. Johnson has made seven three-point baskets in the last two games. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Sophomore guard Jenny Rocha dribbled the length of the court after a steal, scored and was fouled. Rocha pumped her fist after being fouled showing the type of positive emotion that's helped the Lady Lions keep winning. She sank the free throw and the Lady Lions led 42-35 with 10:47 left.

After Bourlioux went down, junior Julie Hlinak stepped up her scoring and finished with 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field. Sophomore guard Dru Haertling dribbled on the wing, stopped on a dime and fired a pass inside to Hlinak who scored. Hlinak was fouled and completed the old-fashioned three-point play with a free throw to give the Lady Lions a 45-35 lead with 10:17 left.

Two free throws by Hlinak and a trio of three-pointers by Johnson, senior Marissa Lehnig and freshman Kassidy Gengenbacher boosted their lead to 15 points.  Gengenbacher finished with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.