Lions build big early lead en route to first MIAA victory

Box Score

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- Limiting Truman to 20 percent first-half shooting, Missouri Southern jumped to a 33-14 lead at halftime and withstood a Truman rally in the second half for a 73-59 triumph Saturday (Jan. 7) at Pershing Arena.

Missouri Southern (9-5, 1-2 MIAA) started the game on a 14-4 run and followed that with a 14-1 flurry. The Lions forced 12 first-half turnovers, resulting in seven steals. MSSU made 40.7 percent from the field and hit on 4-of-9 three-point goals in the opening period.

Senior Dacie Reutlinger scored six points during the game-opening burst, en route to a season- and career-high 20 points.

In the second half, the Lions led by as many as 22 in the opening minutes, but Truman took off on a 23-5 run to trim the margin to just four points, 47-43, with 11:07 to play. Southern would respond with a 12-3 rally that was fueled by two three-pointers from junior Marina Caran.

The lead stayed around double figures over the final 7:23, although Truman closed to within nine, 66-57, with 2:30 on the clock. Another big Caran three-pointer made it a 69-57 game with two minutes to go. Sophomore Robin Kantin hit four free throws in the final 1:28 to seal the victory.

In addition to Reutlinger's 20 points, Caran and freshman Meghan Welch had 11 points apiece. Caran also had a team-high eight rebounds, while Kantin, who was 8-of-11 at the foul line en route to 10 points, ended with a game-best six assists. The Lions made 12-of-13 free throws in the second half. Southern hit a season-high 86.4 percent (19-of-22) at the free throw line.

Truman (7-6, 0-4) was led by a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds from Georgia Miller. Candace McGee added 10 points.

Missouri Southern now moves on to play Wednesday (Jan. 11) in the Del Rio Bordertown Battle at Pittsburg State.