Before heading into the new year, the Lindenwood women's basketball team survived a scare from Northwest Missouri, winning 74-70 at Hyland Arena Sunday afternoon. This win was the Lady Lions' third in the MIAA of the season.
 
The Lady Lions jump started the contest with a 10-2 run led by Vanessa Zailo's four points and a steal that ended in a fast break bucket. In retaliation, the Bearcats had a 10-4 run to cut the Lady Lions' lead to 14-10 with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter. After the media timeout, another run ensued by the Bearcats, outscoring the Lady Lions 8-1 by the 2:36 mark. Led behind Jenny Rocha's two free throws, a rebound, and an assist, the Lady Lions ended the first quarter with a 6-0 run to give them a 21-18 edge. Rocha led the Lady Lions with eight points while Zailo recorded two of the team's three steals.
 
In the beginning of the second quarter, Kassidy Gengenbacher extended the Lady Lions' lead to 29-21 by the 7:11 mark with her first three-pointer and a bucket and-one play. Before the second media timeout, Rocha drove to the lane but passed to CeCe Rapp for a two-point jump shot at the 5:23 mark. That was Rocha's seventh assist of the game, giving her team a 32-23 lead. The Bearcats used the media timeout to their advantage and stormed back with a 13-2 run to tie the game at the 1:01 mark, giving them a two-point lead. Before halftime, the Bearcats added a free throw, lending them a 37-34 lead heading into the locker rooms. Rocha and Gengenbacher combined for 19 of the Lady Lions' points in the first half.
 
The Lady Lions surged into the second half with a 6-0 run and three-point lead by the 8:23 mark behind the likes of a Charisse Williams' steal converted into an easy layup from Gengenbacher. Bri Wilbur also stole a pass and drove into the right lane then passed right back for a Gengenbacher three-pointer, giving the Lady Lions a five-point lead at the 6:50 mark. Both teams traded shots and fouls within the last 30 seconds of the third quarter. The Bearcats, however, ended the quarter with a three-point buzzer beater to give them a 56-55 lead.
 
After allowing a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter, the Lady Lions responded with a 7-0 run behind two layups from Rocha and a three-pointer from Gengenbacher to take the lead 62-59 at the 7:55 mark. The Lady Lions continued to play aggressively behind Rocha's 10 assist that converted into a Gengenbacher three-pointer. Wilbur also added a three from the corner to give a six-point lead heading into media timeout. With 1:12 remaining, the Bearcats cut the Lady Lions' lead to two after a layup. The Bearcats attempted to tie the game with six seconds remaining, but missed a layup then fouled Gengenbacher. She nailed both free throws to ice the 74-70 victory for the Lady Lions.
 
Rocha set a career-high with 10 assists that contributed to her first career double-double as a Lady Lion. She finished with 15 points and two steals. Gengenbacher led the team with 24 points on eight of 13 shooting and four of eight beyond the arc. She also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
 
This was the Lady Lions' fourth game decided by five points or less in which they hold a 3-1 record. They converted 53.8 percent of their shots taken and 41.7 percent from the three-point line. On the boards, the Lady Lions out-rebounded the Bearcats 30-26. The Bearcats shot better from the charity stripe, making 12 out of 14 free throws while the Lady Lions went 13 for 21.
 
The Lady Lions will go into Christmas break with a 7-4 record and 3-2 in the MIAA. They will return on the road to Topeka, Kan. on January 2 to take on Washburn. Tip-off is scheduled at 5 pm.