Saturday's Contest
-Lindenwood couldn't overcome a slow start a week ago in St. Joseph, Mo. against Missouri Western and fell 65-62. The Griffons led the Lady Lions 38-20 at halftime thanks to 17 Lady Lions turnovers.
Dru Haertling led the Lady Lions with a season-high 18 points. Quenisha Lewis and Sharniece Lewis led the Griffons with 17 points.
-The Griffons held Lindenwood leading scorer
Kassidy Gengenbacher scoreless in the first half. Gengenbacher entered the game averaging 14.6 points and was in the top 10 in conference scoring, but she finished with seven points, her lowest output since Nov. 16.
-Sophomore
Jenny Rocha was the other Lady Lions player to score in double figure with 12 points. Senior
Caroline Bourlioux had eight points and eight rebounds for the Lady Lions. Teammate
Julie Hlinak had eight points and eight rebounds. Hlinak has 32 rebounds in the last four games.
Lindenwood Notes
-Because of illness, Lindenwood coach
Tony Francis had to juggle his starting lineup against Lincoln. The Lady Lions most consistent starting lineup this season has been freshman
Kassidy Gengenbacher, sophomores
Jenny Rocha and
Dru Haertling, junior
Morgan Johnson and senior
Caroline Bourlioux. That unit has a record of 6-5. Francis has been working freshman forward
Bre Zanders into the starting lineup more frequently as Bourlioux's career winds down.
-Zanders scored a career-high 12 points in the 67-58 loss to Lincoln. It was Zanders' homecoming as she graduated from Jefferson City Helias. Zanders' 27 minutes on the court Thursday were also a season high. She made 4 of 5 shots against the Blue Tigers and is 29 of 62 (.468) from the field this season. She also boosted her free-throw percentage to .846 after making all four attempts against Lincoln.
-Gengenbacher is shooting .269 in the past two games, and got off to another slow start offensively Thursday, but like she did against Missouri Western, she turned it on in the second half and led the Lady Lions with 17 points.
-Lehnig's seven field goals Thursday gives her 305 in her four-year career at Lindenwood. She's reached 10 or more points 11 times this season and has made 81 of 169 shots (.479) from the field.
-Junior
Morgan Johnson was held scoreless for the third time this season Thursday and she's scored 11 points in the last four games. Her minutes dropped to 11 against Lincoln, her fewest since Dec. 20. She blocked her team-high 11th shot against the Blue Tigers. After leading the MIAA in three-point shooting for weeks, Johnson is second on the Lady Lions to Gengenbacher (.409-.408).
-Haertling played in 31 minutes for the third straight game. She scored a season-high 18 points last week against Missouri Western.
-For the first time this season, the Lady Lions are on the negative side for turnovers. After turning the ball over 13 times against Lincoln, the Lady Lions are -1. They continue to maintain their edge in rebounding, and have an edge of 731-717 (plus-14) on the boards.
-After starting 22 of 26 games and scoring a career-high 334 points last season, junior
Julie Hlinak has started five of 20 games and has 113 points this season. Hlinak has been a major contributor off of the bench and is second to Bourlioux (107) with 105 rebounds.
-Lincoln's win against the Lady Lions puts it back in the MIAA Tournament picture.
Last Time Out
-The Lindenwood women's basketball team lost its third straight game by falling 67-58 to Lincoln Thursday night in Jefferson City.
-The Lady Lions fell to 10-10 overall and 5-8 in the conference. The Blue Tigers were winless (0- 12) in conference play before the game which was played a day late because of inclement weather.
-Despite shooting just 5 of 17 from the field, Gengenbacher led the Lady Lions with 17 points. Gengenbacher rebounded from a seven-point performance in the loss to Missouri Western. Lehnig (16 points) and Zanders (12) also scored in double figures for the Lady Lions. It was a season high for Zanders.
-Junior
Julie Hlinak scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Lions. Hlinak is averaging eight rebounds over the last four games.
Missouri Western Notes
-The Griffons have struggled away from the fieldhouse this season, falling in eight of their nine road games which includes going 0-6 in MIAA play. The Griffons only road win of the season came against the Rockhurst Hawks on Nov. 23 by a score of 63-59.
-Saturday's meeting will mark the 4th all-time game against Lindenwood. The Griffons are 3-0 after winning last weekend's game 65-62. They also won last year's meeting in St. Joseph by a score of 65- 59 on Jan. 16. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams in St. Charles.
-When the Griffons have at least one player score in double figures, they are 7-9 on the season. When they don't have a player score in double figures, they are 2-2.
