The Lindenwood women's basketball team fell 87-58 to No. 3 Emporia State on Monday night in Emporia, Kan.
 
The Lady Lions played strong the first portion of the game, but the Hornets proved why they are a top ranked team late in the game.  Emporia State outrebounded Lindenwood 40-30 and it showed in the stat sheet as well.  Lindenwood was outscored in the paint 36-24 and allowed 12 second chance points.  The Hornets were very efficient shooting the ball as they were 10-of-19 from behind the arc and 28-of-55 from the field, both over 50 percent shooting.  The Lady Lions struggled to score buckets as they shot just over 33 percent from field and under 27 percent from three-point range.
 
Lindenwood began the game with a 4-2 lead after Kassidy Gengenbacher tied the game and Charisse Williams knocked down two free throws.  Gengenbacher hit a three-pointer to give Lindenwood a 9-7 lead, but it was the last time the Lady Lions would be out in front.  Emporia State went on a 6-0 run before Gengenbacher knocked down another long-range shot to pull within one with under four minutes to go in the first quarter.  The Hornets closed out the quarter on a 10-3 run to hold a 23-15 lead.
 
Both teams struggled to put up points in the second quarter.  Lindenwood was able to keep the game close as it closed out the first half with back-to-back baskets.  The Lady Lions were down by just six points at the break, as Emporia State led 35-29.
 
Gengenbacher scored her 12th point just 10 seconds into the third quarter.  The free throw brought Lindenwood within five points, but it was also the last bucket that Gengenbacher scored on the night.  Less than a minute later, Williams knocked down two free throws to pull within three points and it looked to spark the Lady Lions in hopes of an upset.  Both teams traded buckets for the majority of the third quarter, but the three-point shooting helped spring Emporia State to a 57-45 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
 
In the first 1:21 of the fourth quarter, Sandra Ngoie drained three three-pointers to ignite a huge quarter for Emporia State.  Ngoie finished 8-of-10 from behind the field and 5-of-6 from behind the arc, while Kelly Moten was 3-for-3 from downtown.  The Lady Lions could not keep up with the sharp shooting by the Hornets and fell 87-58.
 
Williams led the Lady Lions with 16 points as she made seven of her eight free throws.  Vanessa Zailo grabbed nine rebounds and scored 10 points, while adding a block and a steal.
 
Emporia State is now 11-2 on the year and 5-2 in conference play.  The loss sets Lindenwood back to 7-6 on the season and 3-4 in the MIAA.  The Lady Lions will return to St. Charles, Mo. on Thursday night to take on No. 1 Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. in Hyland Arena.