Second-half surge leads to MSSU loss

Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The No. 1-ranked Washburn Lady Blues used a dominating defensive effort in the second half to avenge their last loss to date and extend their MIAA-record winning streak to 37 games, 70-45 over Missouri Southern Saturday night (Jan. 21) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.  With the loss, the Lions winning streak ends at a season-high five games.

Washburn's last loss came 364 days ago to Missouri Southern, 53-50 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

After the Lions (12-6, 4-3 MIAA) played the Lady Blues close in the first half and early in the second, Washburn puts the clamps on Southern's offense and held them to only 2-of-23  (8.7 percent) from the field in the second half.  The Lions went nearly 18 minutes without a field goal in the second stanza.

After senior Dacie Reutlinger (Owasso, Okla.) hit a layup with 18:14 to play to bring the Lions to within three at 37-34, the Lady Blues (18-0, 7-0 MIAA) took firm control of the contest by outscoring the Lions 29-5 over the next 15 minutes to take a commanding 66-39 advantage and built the lead as high as 27 points on two occasions before settling for the 25-point win.  WU senior Jennifer Harris played a vital role in the Lady Blues charge by scoring eight points, all on layups during the Lady Blues' decisive run.

Southern was competitive in the first half and took a five-point lead at 18-13 on a layup from Reutlinger before the Lady Blues went on a 13-2 spurt to go up 26-20 with 7:08 left in the opening half.  

The Lions fought back though and tied the score at 31-31 on a three-point shot by freshman Meghan Welch (Goddard, Kan.) with 1:43 to play in the first half, before trailing 37-32 at halftime.   

Reutlinger was the lone Lion in double figures with 10 points.  Sophomore Robin Kantin (Silver Spring, Md.) scored seven points and had a team-high five rebounds.

Washburn was led by Harris' 17 points and she was joined in double-figures by April Roadhouse (13 points) and Jessica Aebi (10 points).

The Lions will look to get back on the winning track by playing the Southwest Baptist Lady Bearcats Tuesday night (Jan. 24) at 5:45 p.m. in Bolivar, Mo.