Lions defeat Central Oklahoma in MSSU Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic

Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Missouri Southern used a 16-3 run in the second half to take the lead for good in an 81-75 win over the Central Oklahoma Bronchos at the MSSU Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic Saturday afternoon (Nov. 19) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

With the Lions (2-1) trailing 54-50 with 11:51 left in the second half, junior Marina Caran (Kovin, Serbia) and freshman Danielle DeVader (Holton, Kan.) each hit two three-pointers to fuel the Lions second-half surge as MSSU went ahead 66-57 with 6:41 remaining.  The Lions allowed the Bronchos (0-2) to get no closer than four the remainder of the contest.

Caran came off the bench to lead four Lions in double-figures with 18 points and a game-high five assists, while DeVader and freshman Meghan Welch (Goddard, Kan.) each scored 15 points in a reserve role. Senior Nicole Greninger (Webb City, Mo.) rounded out the Lions in double-figure scoring by adding 11 points. 

Senior Dacie Reutlinger (Owasso, Okla.) scored seven points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Lions.  Meghan Craig led the Bronchos with a game-high 33 points and nine rebounds.  Overall, the Lions got a season-high 56 points from their reserves in the victory.

Caran made 4-of-6 three-pointers and DeVader connected on 3-of-6 from long distance to lead a Lions attack that tied a season-high by hitting 10-of-18 three-pointers in the contest.

In Saturday's earlier game, the No. 1-ranked Washburn Lady Blues crushed the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs, 92-40.  Jennifer Harris scored 30 and Brooke Ubelaker added 23 to lead the Lady Blues.  Andrea Oldham scored nine to lead the Bulldogs, as no SWOSU player reached double-figures.

MSSU's Reutlinger and Greninger were both named to the MSSU Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic All-tournament team.  Greninger was the Lions scoring leader in the tournament with a 14.5 points per game average and knocked down a team-high eight three-pointers in the Classic.  Reutlinger averaged 10.5 points per game and averaged a team-leading 8.0 rebounds per game.

Other all-tournament honorees included Ubelaker and Harris from Washburn and Craig from UCO.  Ubelaker was named the tournament MVP.

The Lions will now prepare for their first road trip of the 2005-06 regular season by traveling to Tahlequah, Okla. to face the Northeastern State (Okla.) Lady Reds Tuesday night (Nov. 22), followed by a pair of games at the Pittsburg State Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 25-26 in Pittsburg, Kan.  The Lions will face Evangel (Mo.) Friday night (Nov. 25), followed by rematch with Southwestern Oklahoma State Saturday night (Nov. 26). Both MSSU games at the PSU Classic are set for 5:30 p.m.