MACOMB, Ill. - Lindenwood women's basketball (20-8, 16-3 OVC) fell for the first time in their last 12 games as the Leathernecks of Western Illinois (14-14, 8-11 OVC) pulled off the 75-70 upset on Tuesday evening. With the loss, Lindenwood is now one-game out of first place going into the Ohio Valley Conference regular season finale on Saturday.

Despite the loss, Lindenwood's offense was able to put together four double-figure scorers including 16 from Brooke Coffey. Coffey was efficient from the floor shooting 7-12 while adding a team-high five assists. Her five assists also tie her career-high which she had hit four times this season.

Gracy Wernli and Ellie Brueggemann also had 15 points each combing for nine three points. Wernli shot 5-12 from three-point range with only one her shots from the field coming inside the arc. Brueggemann was 5-13 from the floor and 4-11 from three. This marked Brueggemann's most made threes in a game since hitting six vs. SEMO.

Mykayla Cunningham off the bench added 11 points on 3-7 shooting while going 4-6 at the foul line. As a team, Lindenwood shot 24-61 from the floor and 33.3% from three. Western Illinois took advantage on the glass out-rebounding Lindenwood 48-31 including 17 offensive rebounds. The Leathernecks scored 13 points on second change opportunities.

It was a back-and-forth first quarter in Western Hall that featured six lead changes as the Lions led 21-20 after the first 10 minutes. Coffey and Wernli combined for 14 points as the Lions shot 61.5% from the floor. Lindenwood held an early six-point lead by Raegan McCowan for WIU had seven points and three rebounds to lead the Leathernecks.

Western Illinois started the second quarter on an 8-0 run which was ended by a Coffey layup to make it 23-28. The Leathernecks made it a 12-point lead with 47 second remaining before Mary McGrath off the bench scored five quick points to make the halftime score 39-32 WIU. LU was held to 4-16 shooting in the second quarter while the Leathernecks shot 6-15 including three triples. Coffey had 10 points at the break to lead the Lions.

With 4:21 remaining in the third quarter, Western was on an 13-5 run to open up 17-point lead marking it as the highest of the game. Lindenwood closed the gap to as low as nine in the quarter, but the Leathernecks still led 56-45 going into the final quarter. The Lions were held to under 25.0% from the field in the third as Brueggemann scored five points in the frame.

Lindenwood's offense started the pick up the pace cutting the lead to five with 7:03 remaining after a Wernli three. Western Illinois still kept shooting well from the field pushing the lead back up to 12 with under four to play. Lindenwood got it to as close as three points with 32 seconds left, but WIU ended the game knocking down a pair of free throws as the Lions' win streak ended at 11 games.

Going into Saturday's contest, Lindenwood trails Tennessee Tech by one game for a share of the title of OVC Regular Season Champions. LU will be at Tennessee Tech on Saturday, March 1st at 1:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.