ST. CHARLES, Mo. (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge propelled the Lindenwood Lions to an 80-71 victory over the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Monday night at Robert F. Hyland Performance Arena.

The Lions, who improved to 3-1, outscored the Kangaroos 30-18 in the final period, erasing a narrow deficit and pulling away in the final minutes to secure the win before an announced crowd of 634.

For three quarters, the game was a tightly contested affair. Missouri-Kansas City, which fell to 1-3, established an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 18-12. The Kangaroos maintained a slim 33-31 advantage at halftime and extended their lead to 53-50 heading into the final quarter, setting the stage for Lindenwood’s dramatic comeback.

The Lions’ offense found its rhythm in the fourth, capitalizing on a series of Missouri-Kansas City turnovers and converting key shots. The Kangaroos were ultimately undone by 19 turnovers, which the Lions converted into numerous transition opportunities. Lindenwood also controlled the glass, securing 12 offensive rebounds to UMKC’s seven, leading to crucial second-chance points.

Lindenwood’s offense was powered by a near triple-double from junior forward Brooke Coffey. The St. Charles native tallied 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, orchestrating the Lions’ attack and coming up with key plays on both ends of the floor. She was supported by a balanced scoring effort that saw four other Lions reach double figures.

Mya Skoff scored 17 points, while Aleshia Jones came off the bench to add 16, with many of her baskets coming during the pivotal fourth-quarter run. Ellie Brueggemann contributed 10 points and six assists, and Gracy Wernli chipped in six points.

Missouri-Kansas City was led by the prolific scoring of its backcourt. Elauni Bennett poured in 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds, consistently attacking the basket. Jamyah Winter was equally effective from the perimeter, scoring 21 points, including five three-pointers. Zaire Harrell added 11 points and six rebounds for the Kangaroos.

Despite the loss, Missouri-Kansas City was efficient from the field, shooting 57 percent overall and 58 percent from three-point range. However, their high turnover count and Lindenwood’s superior ball movement, which resulted in 11 assists and 11 steals, proved to be the difference. Lindenwood shot 52 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.

The game was a tale of two halves, with UMKC’s sharp shooting keeping them in front for the majority of the contest before Lindenwood’s defensive pressure and offensive execution in the final frame sealed the victory. The Lions’ ability to generate points off turnovers and control the offensive glass in the fourth quarter overwhelmed the Kangaroos down the stretch.

Lindenwood will look to build on this win when they travel to face Omaha on Saturday. Missouri-Kansas City returns home to host UTEP next Tuesday.