NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Lindenwood women's basketball (16-7, 12-2 OVC) used a strong second half performance to overcome a three-point halftime deficit to defeat Tennessee State (7-17, 3-11 OVC) by a final score of 81-70. After Eastern Illinois' loss on Saturday, LU and Tennessee Tech are tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. This marked the first time LU has won back-to-back road wins since the 2019-20 season and first time in the Division I era.

"What a great team effort!" said head coach Amy Eagan. "I thought our kids played tough both physically and mentally especially when things were not going our way in the first half. What a great road sweep for the program."

There were four Lions to post double-figures in the win including Brooke Coffey who posted her second straight double-double increasing her total to five on the season. Coffey was tied for the team lead in points scoring 18 (career-high) while shooting 6-9 from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the foul line. She added a team-high 10 rebounds along with four assists and a block. Lindenwood out-rebounding TSU by 13 on the glass (42-29).

Mya Skoff kept her OVC hot streak alive scoring 18 points on 5-10 shooting while going 7-8 at the foul line. As a team, Lindenwood went to the foul line 27 times making 24. Their 27 trips marked the third most by the team this season. Skoff also added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. In OVC play, Skoff has averaged 11.3 ppg while scoring in double-figures nine times including four straight.

Gracy Wernli also added 17 points in the win, shooting 4-7 from the field and a perfect 7-7 at the foul line. Ellie Brueggemann was the final Lion to score in double figures after scoring 11 points including three threes. In the second half, Lindenwood shot 6-11 from downtown.

Lindenwood finished the ballgame shooting 43.9% from the field and 31.8% from three while going 88.9% from the foul line, their second highest average this season. TSU shot 41.3% from the field while shooting 45.0% from three. LU was forced into 15 turnovers on Saturday while the Lady Tigers had 10. The Lions were able to push the pace of play scoring 23 points on fast break opportunities compared to 14 by TSU.

The Lions got out to a fast start going up 8-2 early through the first three minutes. After TSU tied the game at 8-8, Lindenwood responded with a 5-0 run capped off by a three by Brueggemann. TSU would end the half strong going on a 8-2 run as the Lady Tigers led 18-17 after one quarter.  LU was just 1-5 from three in the first while TSU shot 4-7.

Just one point was scored over the course of the first 3:11 of the second quarter before TSU opened up their largest lead of five points. Lindenwood was able to cut the lead back to two before TSU went on a 5-0 run to lead 27-20 with 3:21 left in the quarter. The Lions eventually cut the lead back to three (28-31) after two free throws by Justis Odom going into halftime. Lindenwood was held to just 4-13 from the field in the second quarter.

Tennessee State's lead was as many as eight points in the third quarter, but the Lions went on a 14-6 run to tie the game at 42-42 with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter. Gracie Kelsey had a huge and-one to tie the game. Lindenwood ended the half out-scoring TSU 12-6 as they went into the final quarter leading 54-48.

The fourth quarter started out all Lindenwood as the Lions jumped out to a 23-7 run which saw the Lions shoot 7-9 from the field including a perfect 3-3 from deep and 6-6 from the foul line. Coffey had eight points during that stretch while Brueggemann added six as the Lions led 77-55 with 4:33 left. Tennessee State's offense ended the game on a 15-4 run but it was too late as the Lions secured their 12th OVC win of the season.

Lindenwood returns home next week for their final two home games of the season against Morehead State and Southern Indiana starting on Thursday, Feb. 13th. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.