The Lindenwood women's basketball team (7-5, 7-5 GLVC) hung close with the No. 1 Drury Panthers (11-1, 11-1 GLVC) in an 80-72 loss on Thursday.

In the first half, the Lions shot 54.2 percent from the field, and 28.6 percent on three-pointers. From the free throw line, the team was 7-11 (63.6 percent). 20 of the team's 35 points were scored in the paint, and four points came off of the fast break.

The second half saw the team shoot 54.2 percent, while going 4-7 on threes, and 7-12 from the free throw line. With success coming on offensive boards, the Lions scored eight points on the second chance, and 16 points in the paint.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams kept it close for a majority of the first quarter, with neither team leading by more than two until the 2:20 mark.
• The Lions shot 50.0 percent from the field, and scored 12 of their 14 points in the paint in the opening 10 minutes.
• After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, Lindenwood battled back to close the first half down by seven points.
• Lindenwood shot 54.2 percent from the field in the first half, while going 7-11 from the charity stripe.
• Ellen McCorkle picked up a game-high 11 points in the first half. Julia Ruzevich was second amongst both teams with 10 points in the first two quarters.
• For the second-consecutive period, the Lions outscored the Panthers, this time putting up 22 points and holding Drury to 19 in the third quarter.
• After going on an 8-0 scoring run, Lindenwood regained the lead on a Devin Fuhring layup off of a J. Ruzevich assist.
• The Panthers broke out in the fourth period, shooting 50.0 percent, and outscoring the Lions by four points to close out the game.

 BOX SCORE LEADERS

• McCorkle led the way with a career-high tying 25 points. Fuhring and J. Ruzevich each added 18 points for the team.
• J. Ruzevich led the squad with her 11 rebounds. McCorkle was right behind her, tallying 10 rebounds for the team.
• Kate Ruzevich and J. Ruzevich each dished out five assists, which was a team-high.
• Hennessey Handy, Kendra Lee, and K. Ruzevich each tallied a steal.
• J. Ruzevich finished with the lone blocked shot.

RECORD NOTES

• Fuhring has moved to 9th on the all-time scoring list for Lindenwood with 756 points. Fuhring's 88 three-pointers made in her career are 5th all-time.
• Fuhring is 8th on the all-time blocked shots list for the Lions with 37. McCorkle is 10th with 34 in her career. McCorkle is t-6th with 21 blocks in the 2020-21 season.
• McCorkle's 25 points matched her career-best, which came in the previous game, against Illinois Springfield.
• Emily Benzschawel scored a career-high six points on 2-3 shooting from deep.
• Autumn Brown picked up her first-career rebound.
• Lee's steal in the contest was the first of her career.

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 stay away from home, this time going up against Missouri S&T, on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.