The Lindenwood women's basketball team (4-3, 4-3 GLVC) opened up 2021 with a win against Southwest Baptist (0-6, 0-6 GLVC), 79-73, on Saturday.

Devin Fuhring (27) and Julia Ruzevich (26) combined for 53 points in the win over the Bearcats. Fuhring went 10-15 from the field, including 2-4 from deep. She also added six assists and four rebounds. J. Ruzevich was 8-16 from the field and 3-6 from the three point line, while bringing in 11 boards and four assists.

Ellen McCorkle added 12 points along with five rebounds and an assist for Lindenwood. As a team, the Lions shot 54.7 percent from the field, which was the best shooting output for the team thus far in the 2020-21 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The team scored 19 points in the opening period of the game, as Fuhring and J. Ruzevich each scored a team-high five points.
• Approaching halftime, Fuhring led all scorers in the game with 19 points.
• As a unit, the Lions shot 59.3 percent in the first half, and the team shot 50.0 percent from deep.
• In the second half, McCorkle scored 10 of her 12 points to help propel Lindenwood to the victory.
• The team held a 50.0 percent shooting line in the second half, while hitting on 3-8 (.375) threes.
• The Lions outscored the Bearcats, 42-22, in the paint. The Southwest Baptist bench outscored Lindenwood, however, 24-3.
• The biggest lead of the game for the Lions was 16 points midway through the second quarter. Lindenwood led for 39 minutes in the game, and never trailed.

BOX SCORE LEADERS

• Fuhring scored a team-high 27 points, while J. Ruzevich finished second with 26 points.
• J. Ruzevich also led the squad with 11 rebounds, giving her a double-double, marking the fourth of the season and fifth of her career.
• Fuhring dished out a team-best six assists. Hennessey Handy, Kate Ruzevich, and J. Ruzevich each finished with four assists.
• Nicole Hernandez and Fuhring each finished with two blocks. The two blocks set a new career-high for Hernandez and tied Fuhring's previous career-high.
• Handy notched a team-high three steals in the game.

FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on Lindenwood women's basketball, follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @LindenwoodWBB and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LUwbball/.

UP NEXT
The Lions return home to take on Illinois Springfield on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 5:00 p.m. Following that, Lindenwood stays in St. Charles, Mo. as the team welcomes in Lewis on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 1:00 p.m.