The Lindenwood women's basketball team (7-3, 0-0 OVC) begins conference play on Thursday in a matchup with Western Illinois (8-1, 0-0 OVC). Tip-off from Hyland Arena is set for 5:00 p.m.
 
The Lions are coming off a 102-68 loss at No. 11 Iowa last Saturday in Iowa City. Lindenwood shot the ball well overall, knocking down 48 percent of its attempts, including 36 percent from three and 75 percent from the line. Ellie Brueggemann led the way offensively with 17 points on 6-of-10 from the field and 3-7 from beyond the arc. It is the eighth game in double figures this season for the Owasso, Okla. native who also had 20 points against a ranked Baylor squad earlier this season.
 
Lindenwood leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (37.3) and makes from beyond the arc (87). Brueggemann paces the Black and Gold in both categories, knocking down her attempts at a 42 percent clip, while making 29 on the season.
 
Brooke Coffey and Mya Skoff were the other Lions in double figures with 13 points apiece. Coffey shot 6-of-12 from the floor, while Skoff had all 13 of her points in the fourth quarter and shot 5-of-7 from the field, and made a pair of threes. For Skoff, it was her second-highest point total of the year as she had 17 against Kansas City on November 17.
 
This will be the Lions' first game inside Hyland Arena in 31 days with the matchup against the Hawkeyes concluding a six-game road trip. Lindenwood went 4-2 during that span. The Black and Gold bring a 13-game home winning streak into the contest with the Leathernecks, as the Lions have not dropped a home game in 369 days.
 
Lindenwood and Western Illinois are two of the top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference this season as both were picked first and third in the preseason poll entering the year. WIU brings a four-game winning streak to St, Charles, Mo. and most recently picked up a win over Omaha.
 
Both teams met three times last season. Each squad earned a win on their home court, while the Lions beat the Leathernecks 86-75 in the semifinals of the OVC Tournament. Skoff led the way with 22 points while Coffey added 13 and Brueggemann chipped in 12.
 
Lindenwood will have a quick turnaround and will head to Charleston, Ill. for a game with Eastern Illinois on Sunday. Tip-off from Groniger Arena is set for 1:00 p.m.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
0: The Lions did not lose a home conference game last season, going 10-0 inside Hyland Arena

3: Aleshia Jones recorded her fourth game this season with at least three steals. She leads the team in that category, averaging two per game

45.3: Lindenwood's 45.3 shooting percentage ranks second in the conference just behind Western Illinois who convert on 46.7 percent of its attempts