Lions roll over Newman, 87-53

Box Score

Sophomore Robin Kantin (Silver Spring, Md.) scored a Lions season-high 20 points and added a team-high seven rebounds as Missouri Southern comfortably defeated the Newman (Kan) Lady Jets, 87-53, Tuesday night (Nov. 30) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The 87 points represents Southern's highest scoring output of the season.

The win is the Lions third straight and moves their record to 5-2 on the season, while the Lady Jets, an NAIA school, lose just their second of the season and fall to 8-2.

With the game tied 13-13, the Lions broke the game open by ripping off 21 unanswered points to lead 34-13 with 6:45 left in the first half. Redshirt freshman Danielle DeVader (Holton, Kan.) nailed three three-pointers during that stretch to lead the Lions' charge.

After leading 44-25 at the half, the Lions came out strong and out-scored the Lady Jets 20-7 over the first seven minutes of the second half to build a 64-32 advantage with 13:22 remaining. The Lions expanded the lead to as many as 33 at 81-48 with 2:06 remaining and coasted to the victory.

Kantin's 20 points came on 10-of-13 shooting from the field as she continually worked the paint. Eight of her 10 field goals came either on aggressive drives to the basket or getting an easy layup in transition.

Joining Kantin in double figures was DeVader, who scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting and and set another career-mark by connecting on 5-of-8 shots from beyond the arc. As a team, the Lions tied a season-best by knocking down 10-of-18 three-pointers in the contest.

Tierney Hughes led three Lady Jets in double-figures with 12 points, followed by Kassie Pauly and Katie Westhoff, who finished with 10 points apiece. Kaycee McGill scored seven points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds for the Lady Jets.

Missouri Southern won't play again until Tuesday night (Dec. 6), as the Lions will welcome Ozark Christian College of Joplin, Mo. at 7 p.m. at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The game will be the Lions final tune-up before the MIAA season tips off at home against No. 9 Emporia State on Saturday night (Dec. 10).