SPRINGFIELD — The Lindenwood-Belleville Lady Lynx defeated the Benedictine-Springfield Bulldogs 74-69 on Tuesday.
In the first half, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead and, after a bucket by Breana McCullough with seven minutes to go in the half, the Lady Lynx took control. For the last seven minutes the Lynx went on a 25-8 run and took a six-point lead into the half.
In the second half, however, the Bulldogs wouldn't go away. With 15:10 left on the clock, the Bulldogs cut the lead to one, but that is as close as they would get.
Jessica Gjerstad scored with 10:25 left to go up by 12 and it looked like the Lady Lynx were going to run away with it. The Bulldogs would continue to fight and both teams traded baskets down the stretch. Alycia Thomas and Bernie Brown both made free throws late to put the game away. The Lady Lynx went on to win 74-69.
Breana McCullough led the Lady Lynx with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 3 for 3 from the free throw line. Bernie Brown also added 16 points and five assists. Brooke Dunning and Alycia Welch added 12 and 10, respectively.
The Lady Lynx move to 1-2 on the season and will travel to Indiana Dabney on Thursday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Chicago.
The women's basketball team went to Tennessee to open the season by playing Martin Methodist College and Cumberland University.
In the first game, the Lady Lynx took on the Red Hawks of Martin Methodist. The Red Hawks would go on to win the game by the score of 112-77.
The Lady Lynx had five players in double figures, led by Dunning with 20 points and four rebounds. Brown added 16 points and eight assists. McCullough had 11 points and eight rebounds, while Alex Capeles and Diamond Burt contributed 10 points each.
The Cumberland University Bulldogs topped the Lady Lynx 65-41 in the second game of the season.
Capeles lead the Lady Lynx with 16 points. She was the only Lynx to score in double figures. Dunning lead the team in rebounds with a total of 13, eight defensive and five offensive. For the game, the Lady Lynx shot 35 percent from the field and 5-9 from the free throw line.
