Lindenwood recap
The Maryville women's basketball team put five players in double figures and recorded an 87-83 victory at No. 25 Lindenwood Saturday afternoon. The victory over No. 25 Lindenwood is the first for the Saints over a ranked team since Maryville won at No. 25 Truman State Jan. 19, 2019. Mary Barton narrowly missed a double-double with 25 points and nine assists, while Abby Monis also just missed her own double-double on 19 points and nine rebounds.
 
What Happened
The Saints jumped to a quick 8-2 lead. Abby Monis scored on the game's first possession, and Hunter Stidham nailed a jumper. After Lindenwood's first bucket of the game, Jayda Jansen sank two free throws, and Stidham scored on a driving layup for the quick six-point lead. The Lions eventually took the lead at 19-17 but the Saints scored the last eight points of the quarter for a 25-19 edge.
 
In the second, Lindenwood tallied the first basket but the Saints drilled three straight 3-pointers. Jansen found the range from deep twice, and Mary Barton connected as the Saints took a 34-21 lead to force a Lindenwood timeout. The Lions made two free throws before the Saints again answered with a 9-0 run. Jansen, Karlee Feldman and Monis scored on three straight layups. CiCi Rindy sank one free throw, and a Monis layup put the Saints up 43-23. Olivia Kastens rattled in a short jumper as Maryville took its largest lead of the game at 48-27. The Saints scored their most points in any half and took a 52-36 lead into the break.
 
Lindenwood chipped away at the lead and trimmed the deficit to 12 before Feldman scored at the third quarter buzzer and a 69-55 cushion. The advantage was still 12 before Monis scored on a layup. The Lions reeled off eight straight and closed to 71-64. Monis scored on a fastbreak and an eight-point lead but the Lions kept raining in 3-pointers and sank five triples in the final quarter. Lindenwood closed the gap to just four points before Barton broke the LU press for a driving layup in the final minute and an 84-78 lead. Barton drilled two free throws at the 23.3 mark as the Saints held on for the upset of a nationally-ranked team.
 
Jansen added 17 points, five steals and three boards, while Stidham and Feldman both finished with 10 points apiece. The Saints shot a season-high 55.7 percent from the field and outrebounded Lindenwood 44-32. Maryville poured in a season-best 87 points, including 52 in the first half.
 
Statistical Leaders
Points: Mary Barton – 25
Rebounds: Abby Monis – 9
Assists: Mary Barton – 9
Steals: Mary Barton – 3
Blocked Shots: Abby Monis and Jayda Jansen – 2
3-Pointers: Mary Barton and Jayda Jansen – 3
 
Records
Maryville: 7-3, 2-1 GLVC
Lindenwood: 6-3, 2-1 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints continue their road swing to start 2020 and play at Quincy Thursday, Jan. 9, for a 5:30 p.m. tip in Pepsi Arena.