Lindenwood Uses Strong Second-Half In Defeat Of Central Missouri, 75-66

Women's Basketball | 3/1/2018 9:29:00 PM

Kansas City, Mo. – For the second-straight year, a No. 9 seed Lindenwood women’s basketball team has taken out a No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament as the Lions beat 6th ranked Central Missouri 75-66 tonight inside Municipal Auditorium.
 
Central Missouri (24-3) was led offensively by Megan Skaggs with 25 points and six rebounds, while Morgan Fleming had 18 points and six boards.
 
Lindenwood (17-12) got 20 points and nine rebounds from Gabby Walker, while Kallie Bildner had a double-dobule with 17 points and ten rebounds.
 
Central started strong and led 5-1 a minute and a half in, but a three from Lindenwood’s Lindsey Medlen gave the Lions an 8-7 lead with 5:47 left. Both teams traded baskets and leads for the rest of the quarter and Lindenwood led 19-17 after one.
 
A three from the Jennies’ Fleming put Central up 20-17 to start the second quarter and the Jennies led 28-24, before a three-point play from Bildner got Lindenwood within one. Central, however, responded with a 7-1 run to end the half and led 35-28 at the break.
 
Lindenwood got within one after a layup from Kylie Ferguson made the score 39-38 with 5:51 left in the third, but the Jennies answered back and a three pointer from Skaggs with 3:04 left gave the Jennies a 49-41 lead. Central would lead 54-49 after three.
 
The Lions started the fourth quarter on a 11-2 run and had a 60-56 lead just four minutes into the quarter, prompting a timeout by the Jennies. A three from Fleming got Central back to one (61-60) with 4:48 and a layup from Fleming with 2:45 left tied it at 63.
 
A quick 7-0 run from Lindenwood, however, put the Lions up 70-63 with 1:15 left in the game. The Lions made two more free throws to seal the win.
 
Lindenwood now goes on to play the winner of the Missouri Western/Central Oklahoma game at 2:15 pm on Saturday.