The Lindenwood women's basketball team (15-6, 7-3 OVC) used a big second half to defeat Tennessee State (3-16, 2-8 OVC), 91-58 on Saturday afternoon from Hyland Arena.

GAME OVERVIEW
Tennessee State jumped out to an 8-2 lead, but a three pointer from Ellie Brueggemann a few minutes later tied the game at eight apiece. The Tigers grabbed a one-point advantage at 13-12 with just over three minutes to go in the opening frame, but Alyssa Nielsen drilled a three to put the Lions up 15-13. The Black and Gold extended their lead throughout the quarter and went up by six, 24-18 following a Brooke Coffey three just before the end of the frame. Coffey led the way eight points in the first.

Lindenwood grabbed a double-digit lead early in the second quarter at 28-18 following a layup by Aleshia Jones. Tennessee State got the deficit down to four, trailing 32-38 with just over three minutes to go. However, back-to-back threes from Coffey and Brueggemann pushed the advantage back to 10 and the Lions led 40-28 at the break. Coffey paced the Lions with 15 points across the first 20 minutes.

The Lions came out of the locker room hot, shooting 64 percent from the field in the third quarter. Lindenwood took its largest lead at the halfway point of the frame after a three by Mya Skoff put the Black and Gold ahead 56-35. It was one of four makes from beyond the arc in the quarter for Lindenwood. The Black and Gold led 65-42 after three behind 14 third quarter points from Aleshia Jones.

Lindenwood opened the fourth on a 14-2 run, capped off by a Brueggemann three that gave the Lions a 79-44 lead. The Black and Gold went on to win 91-58, holding the Tigers to 30 points in the second half and 34 percent shooting from the field.

For the game, Lindenwood knocked down 14 threes and shot 50 percent from the field and beyond the arc. The Lions also shot 85 percent from the line in the win.

GAME LEADERS
Brooke Coffey (24 points, six rebounds, two assists)
Aleshia Jones (22 points, seven rebounds)
Ellie Brueggemann (16 points, six assists, three rebounds)

UP NEXT
The Lions will travel to Evansville, Ind. for a matchup with Southern Indiana on Thursday, January 29. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.