ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood women's basketball (9-6, 5-1 OVC) improves to 5-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play after defeating UT Martin (6-11, 3-3 OVC) by a final score of 79-73. The Lions shot 10-24 from three-point range on Saturday, their most made threes in a game this season.

Brooke Coffey posted her second consecutive double-double on Saturday after dropping 17-points and 11-rebounds vs. the Skyhawks. Coffey shot 6-13 from the field including two three-pointers while grabbing her 11 rebounds. She also tied her season-high in assists with five.

Ellie Brueggemann's four field-goals made were all from beyond the three-point line leading her to 16 points in the win. The sophomore guard went 4-4 at the foul line while also adding thee assists and a team-high three steals.

Justis Odom chipped in 13 points down-low for the Lions going 4-8 from the field and 5-7 from the foul line. Odom battled on the glass for four rebounds helping LU as a team out-rebound the Skyhawks 33-30 including eight offensive rebounds. Gracy Wernli also had 10 points for Lindenwood including two threes.

The Lions assisted on 18 of 23 made field-goals, which marked their second most of the season. Mykayla Cunningham off the bench led the team in assists with six while also adding five points. Lindenwood's bench scored 15 points including seven from Gracie Kelsey.

UT Martin did score 40 points in the paint against LU while the Lions scored 24. With Lindenwood's eight offensive rebounds, they scored 13 second chance points compared to seven by the Skyhawks. The Lions shot 45.1% from the field on Saturday including 41.7% from three and 71.9% from the line. UT Martin shot 47.3% tonight while shooting 27.3% from three.

In the first quarter, Lindenwood jumped out to an 14-6 lead after shooting 6-10 from the field. The Skyhawks closed the gap on a 6-0 run as the Lions led 21-18 in the first quarter. Odom had six of her 13 points in the first 10 minutes of action. LU assisted on six of their eight made field-goals in the first quarter.

The Lions against jumped out to a big lead in the second quarter out-scoring the Skyhawks 11-5 leading 32-23 with 4:34 left in the half. Three points was as close at UTM got it before the Lions went up four (38-34) heading into the break. Four different Lions had at least five points through 20 minutes of action. LU shot 6-11 from the field in the second quarter and 48.3% for the half.

Lindenwood's best quarter came in the third after out-scoring the Skyhawks 23-11. The Lions made four three-pointers in the quarter including two of them coming from Brueggemann. The Lions defense was lock-down holding Martin to 23.5% from the field and 1-6 from deep. LU led 61-45 heading into the final quarter.

UT Martin's defensive pressure picked up in the final quarter as they tried to come back from down as much as 16-points. The Skyhawks forced seven Lindenwood turnovers in the fourth which helped them cut the lead to under 10 with 1:28 remaining. Wernli and Brueggemann both made a pair of free throws late in the game to seal the win for the Lions.

Lindenwood will be back in action next Thursday, Jan. 16th when they travel to Evansville, Ind. to take on the Screaming Eagles of Southern Indiana at 5:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.