The Lindenwood women's basketball team (17-7, 9-4 OVC) used a big fourth quarter to defeat SIUE (10-13, 3-10 OVC), 82-69 on Tuesday night inside Hyland Arena

GAME OVERVIEW
Lindenwood jumped out to an early lead and led wire-to-wire in the first. Mya Skoff knocked down a three just past the halfway point of the opening frame, giving the Lions a 16-10 lead/ A few minutes later, Gracie Kelsey hit another shot from beyond the arc to keep the lead at six, 21-15 which would be the score after one. Kelsey had nine points in the opening frame.

SIUE opened the second quarter on a 8-0 run to go in front by two, 23-21. The Cougars stayed ahead by four at the midway point of the quarter, but a big and-one by Ellie Brueggemann followed by a couple jumpers by Aleshia Jones propelled the Lions back in front, 35-33. The Lions held a one-point lead at the break, 37-36. Jones and Kelsey had nine points in the opening half, followed by Brueggemann with eight.

The Cougars took a five-point lead, 46-41, hitting a pair of big three pointers with just over six minutes to go in the third. SIUE held onto a slim lead, but Ellie Brueggemann hit a contested three as the shot clock was winding down with less than a minute to go to cut the deficit to 59-55. The Lions would trail by two, 59-57 heading into the fourth.

To begin the final quarter, Mya Skoff finished off an and-one to put the Lions ahead 60-59. A few possessions later, Brueggemann and Brooke Coffey made shots from beyond the arc that kept the Lions in front. The Black and Gold were able to pull away late, outscoring the Cougars by 15 in the fourth to earn a 82-69 win. Five Lions finished in double figures.

GAME LEADERS
Ellie Brueggemann (18 points, two rebounds)
Mya Skoff (17 points, four assists, two rebounds)
Valerie Norwood (eight points, four rebounds, two assists)

UP NEXT
The Lions will travel to Little Rock for a matchup with the Trojans on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.