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Comeback bid falls short at Missouri Western
Box Score The Lions, on a 12-0 run, held Western to just one field goal over the final eight-plus minutes, but that one bucket -- a layup from MWSU junior Inga Buzoka with 2:53 left -- proved to be the winning field goal. Southern, though, had many chances to tie or take the lead in the final minutes, the last coming on freshman Meghan Welch's potential tying 26-footer that rimmed out at the buzzer. Southern led 32-29 at halftime after rallying from a 27-20 deficit with a 12-2 run over the final 3:32. Welch (7 points) and freshman Danielle DeVader (9) combined for 16 first-half points. Lightning-quick point guard Tiffany Davis had 12 points in the opening half for Western (11-1, 2-0 MIAA). After the Lions (7-5, 0-2) started the second half with a bucket from sophomore Brianna Volmer, the Griffons put on a 6-0 burst over a two-minute stretch to take the lead. The game stayed at one-possession for the next six minutes before a 12-2 Western run made it 57-46 with nine minutes left. Buzoka, who had 14 second-half points, provided MWSU with its largest lead, at 60-48, with 7:37 to go. That's when the Lions' defense sparked the late 12-0 burst. During the run, Southern forced seven Western turnovers that resulted in three steals for junior Liz Burks and two for sophomore Robin Kantin. DeVader finished with 14 points with all four of her field goals coming on three-pointers. Welch added 13 points as Missouri Southern lost a road clash with Western for the 15th straight time. Buzoka, who came in the MIAA leader in field goal percentage and blocked shots, did little to hurt her lead in either category. While finishing with 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, she also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots. Davis ended with 17 points for Western. She also dished out seven assists and had five thefts.
Missouri Southern resumes play on Tuesday
(Jan. 3) with a non-conference home date against Avila (Mo.). The Lions
get back into conference play on Jan. 7 at Truman State. |