Lions fall to SW Oklahoma State in MSSU Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Senior Nicole Greninger (Webb City, Mo.) tied a career-high with six three-pointers (6-of-12), but it was not enough as Missouri Southern fell 58-52 to the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs in action at the MSSU Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic Friday night (Nov. 18) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Greninger's 18 points led the Lions, while the Lions other returning senior, Dacie Reutlinger (Owasso, Okla.) finished with 14 points and was the only other Lion in double-figures. Greninger and Reutllinger also tallied a team-high five rebounds apiece.

The game featured 10 ties and eight lead changes, with the lead changing hands for the final time on a jumper by Kayla Horn that put the Bulldogs ahead to stay, 48-46 with with 4:13 remaining.

The Lions had a chance to tie or take the lead with 1:03 left, but a three-point attempt by Greninger was off the mark.  Julie Dawson, the Bulldogs leading returning scorer, finished with 14 points and hit four crucial free throws down the stretch to propel SWOSU to the victory. 

Andrea Oldham led three Bulldogs in double-figures with 18 points, with Horn chipping in with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Greninger got off to a red-hot start from behind the arc, knocking down 5-7 treys in the first half to push the Lions to a 32-32 tie at halftime after trailing by as many as seven points in the first half.  Southern shot a 46.4 shooting percentage (13-of-28) and knocked down 6-of-14 from three point distance in the first half. 

The Lions found offense a little harder to come by though in the second half, as they shot just 30 percent (9-30) from the field and 20 percent (2-of-10) from beyond the arc. 

In Friday's early game, preseason No. 1-ranked Washburn dismantled Central Oklahoma, 96-59. Brooke Ubelaker had 27 points to lead five Lady Blues in double figures. UCO got 15 points from Lindsey Wilson. 

MSSU will play UCO tomorrow at 3 p.m., with Washburn facing SWOSU in the earlier game at 1 pm. to close out action in the MSSU Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic.