ST. CHARLES, Mo. (Interstat) — The Lindenwood Lions used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the SIU Edwardsville Cougars for an 82-69 victory in an Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Robert F. Hyland Performance Arena.

The Lions, improving to 17-7 overall, outscored the Cougars 25-10 in the final period to turn a tight contest into a comfortable win before a crowd of 977. The loss dropped SIU Edwardsville to 10-13.

For three quarters, the Cougars hung tough, trailing just 57-52 entering the final frame. The game’s decisive stretch began with just over nine minutes remaining when Lindenwood’s Mya Skoff converted a layup while being fouled and completed the three-point play at the free-throw line. That sequence sparked a 13-2 Lions run over the next four minutes, transforming a five-point lead into a commanding 70-54 advantage with 5:38 to play. During that run, Ellie Brueggemann and Brooke Coffey connected on crucial three-pointers, and the Lions’ defense forced a series of SIUE turnovers and contested shots.

SIU Edwardsville, which had shown resilience by erasing an early deficit to briefly lead in the second quarter, could not muster a response. The Cougars managed only four field goals in the fourth quarter as Lindenwood’s defensive pressure and efficient offense sealed the outcome.

Skoff, a guard from Bellevue, Nebraska, led all scorers with 17 points and added four assists in 33 minutes, orchestrating the Lions’ attack. Brueggemann, from Owasso, Oklahoma, provided a critical scoring punch with 18 points, while Aleshia Jones of Leavenworth, Kansas, chipped in 13 points. The Lions’ frontcourt also contributed significantly, with Coffey (12 points) and Gracie Kelsey (11 points) combining for 23 points.

The Cougars were led by a balanced effort. Kiyoko Proctor of Alton, Illinois, scored 16 points and dished out three assists, playing a game-high 39 minutes. Adebukola Akomolafe came off the bench to provide a spark with 13 points on efficient interior shooting, while Ava Gugliuzza and Lauren Miller added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Miller also contributed four assists and a blocked shot.

The game began at a fast pace, with Lindenwood building a 21-15 lead after the first quarter behind early scores from Kelsey and Coffey. The Cougars responded in the second period, using an 11-2 run fueled by three-pointers from Gugliuzza and Macy Silvey to take a brief lead. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with Lindenwood holding a narrow 37-36 edge at the intermission.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, featuring seven lead changes. SIU Edwardsville’s Proctor and Akomolafe kept the Cougars close, but Lindenwood’s Brueggemann and Skoff answered every challenge, setting the stage for the Lions’ fourth-quarter explosion.

Lindenwood shot efficiently from the floor, while SIU Edwardsville struggled from three-point range. The Lions also capitalized on Cougar turnovers, converting them into key transition scores during the game-clinching run.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Lindenwood, which defeated SIU Edwardsville 84-65 on Jan. 6. The Lions will travel to face Arkansas-Little Rock on Thursday. SIU Edwardsville, which has lost three straight, will also face Arkansas-Little Rock on the road Saturday.