ST. CHARLES, Mo. (Interstat) — In a dramatic, high-paced contest defined by a stunning fourth-quarter reversal, the Lindenwood Lions overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos 80-71 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Monday night at Robert F. Hyland Performance Arena.

The Kangaroos, who led for the vast majority of the game and appeared in control through three quarters, were outscored by a staggering 30-18 margin in the final period, watching their potential road victory dissolve under a relentless Lindenwood offensive barrage.

Missouri-Kansas City established its game plan early, leveraging efficient shooting to build an 18-12 lead after the first quarter. The Kangaroos’ offense continued to hum in the second period, but the Lions began to find their footing, narrowing the gap slightly. By halftime, the visitors held a 33-31 advantage, a lead built on the back of a remarkably accurate first-half shooting performance.

The third quarter saw UMKC extend its lead to as many as nine points. The Kangaroos poured in 20 points in the frame, with Jamyah Winter and Elauni Bennett consistently finding ways to score. As the period ended with the score 53-50 in favor of the Kangaroos, there was little indication of the impending collapse.

The final quarter, however, belonged entirely to Lindenwood. The Lions’ offense, which had been effective but not overwhelming, suddenly became unstoppable. They shredded the UMKC defense with a combination of drives to the basket and timely outside shooting. A key 16-2 run midway through the quarter turned a narrow deficit into a commanding lead from which the Kangaroos could not recover.

Lindenwood’s victory was fueled by a near triple-double from junior forward Brooke Coffey. The St. Charles native dominated the contest, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, orchestrating the offense and controlling the glass. Mya Skoff provided a crucial scoring punch with 17 points, while Aleshia Jones came alive in the second half to finish with 16 points, many during the decisive fourth-quarter run. Ellie Brueggemann facilitated the offense with six assists.

Despite the loss, Missouri-Kansas City received spectacular individual efforts. Elauni Bennett from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was a force all night, scoring a game-high 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Jamyah Winter was equally potent from the perimeter, draining five three-pointers on her way to 21 points. Zaire Harrell added 11 points and six rebounds for the Kangaroos.

The statistical story of the game was one of efficiency and ball security. While UMKC shot a superb 57 percent from the floor and an even more impressive 58 percent from three-point range, they were undone by turnovers. The Kangaroos committed 19 turnovers, which the Lions converted into numerous transition opportunities. Lindenwood, conversely, committed only 13 turnovers and recorded 11 steals, led by Coffey’s and Brueggemann’s defensive activity.

Lindenwood also won the battle on the offensive glass, securing 12 offensive rebounds to UMKC’s seven, creating valuable second-chance points that proved critical in their comeback. The Lions’ offensive rating of 117.3 on 68 possessions ultimately overpowered the Kangaroos’ 108.9 rating on 65 possessions.

The result pushes Lindenwood’s season record to 3 wins and 1 loss, continuing a strong start that includes a win over Oral Roberts. The Lions now look ahead to a road game against Omaha on Saturday.

For Missouri-Kansas City, the loss is a difficult one to absorb, dropping them to 1-3 on the young season. After competitive showings against power conference foes Kansas and Oklahoma, the Kangaroos let a winnable game slip away in the final ten minutes. They will seek to regroup when they host UTEP on Tuesday, November 25.

An announced crowd of 634 at the Hyland Arena witnessed a game of two distinct halves, culminating in a triumphant home comeback for the Lions and a lesson in closing out games for the visiting Kangaroos.