Box Score Pushed to their first overtime game this season, the Lindenwood women's basketball team responded with a 79-74 win over Northwest Missouri Wednesday in Maryville, Mo.

Combined with Nebraska-Kearney's 82-68 loss to Emporia State, the Lady Lions clinched a berth in this year's MIAA Tournament. This is the first season the Lady Lions are eligible for NCAA Tournament play.

With the win, the Lady Lions improved to 13-11 overall, but more importantly, 8-9 in the conference. The Lady Lions vastly improved their chances at hosting a conference tournament game March 3 as the Bearcats fell to 9-14, 6-10.

Junior guard Morgan Johnson was 1 for 8 from three-point range in regulation, but made two treys in overtime as the Lady Lions outscored the Bearcats 19-14 in the extra period. Johnson is the leading three-point shooter in the MIAA.

"Morgan proved when you're a shooter, shooters keep shooting," Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said. "She had good looks early in game but they didn't fall. She's established herself as a leader in this program."

Senior forward Caroline Bourlioux came off the bench to post a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Bourlioux's two free throws with six seconds left in OT helped seal the win.

"We had a nine-point lead in regulation and we got rattled and they found a way to send it into overtime," Francis said. "The girls showed some toughness tonight. Caroline knocked down those free throws like a senior."

Lindenwood guard Jenny Rocha missed a layup as time expired and the game went to overtime. It was Northwest Missouri's second straight overtime game and fourth of the season. The Lady Lions avenged a 70-59 loss to Northwest Missouri in St. Charles Jan. 30.

Freshman Kassidy Gengenbacher led the Lady Lions with 21 points, the fifth time she's cracked 20 points this season, but the first time since Jan. 9. Rocha (14 points) and freshman Bre Zanders (10) also reached double figures in points for the Lady Lions.

"I don't know if there's a moment that's too big for her," Francis said of Gengenbacher.

For the third time in four games, the Lady Lions shot at least 55 percent from the field. They made 28 of 49 shots (57 percent) against the Bearcats, who shot just 36 percent.

Northwest Missouri led 7-0 to open the game and had an eight-point lead in the first half. The Bearcats starting point guard, Shelby Mustain, missed the game with an illness. Guard Ariel Easton, the Bearcats leading scorer this season, tied Gengenbacher with a game-high 21 points. Sophomore forward Annie Mathews scored 20 points for the Bearcats, one shy of her career high, but fouled out with 1:48 left in overtime.

Sophomore guard Dru Haertling had six points and five rebounds for the Lady Lions. Francis said the Lady Lions got nine valuable minutes from senior forward Cassie Bluemner who made 2 of 3 shots to finish with four points.

The Lady Lions return to Hyland Arena for their final two regular-season games. They host Lincoln Saturday. The Blue Tigers are 1-15 in conference play, but their lone conference win was against Lindenwood Feb. 5.