Lions rally past Missouri Western, 69-61

Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Sophomore Robin Kantin (Silver Spring, Md.) notched her second consecutive double-double and Missouri Southern used a late three-point barrage to snap its brief two-game losing streak and defeat Missouri Western 69-61 Saturday night (Jan. 28) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The win keeps the Lions in a tie for third place in the MIAA with a conference record of 5-4 and a 13-7 overall record.  With the loss, the Griffons fall to 14-6 overall and 4-5 in the MIAA.

With Western leading 52-51 with 3:22 left to play, the Lions took charge with a 16-4 run that was fueled by two long three-pointers by junior Marina Caran (Kovin, Serbia) that gave Southern a 67-56 lead with just 31 seconds left.   

Junior Dana-Mae Robbs (Lecompton, Kan.) also nailed a big trey, the second of her career, during the decisive run that gave the Lions a 59-54 lead with 1:43 left.

The Griffons led 32-31 at halftime and opened the second half with five straight points that equaled their largest lead of the night at 37-31 after a pair of Jill Johnson free-throws with 16:43 to go.  

The Lions answered right back by outscoring the Griffons 14-6 over the next eight minutes to lead 45-43, capped by a three-pointer by freshman Meghan Welch (Goddard, Kan.).

Southern was led by Kantin, who produced game-highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds.  Caran also reached double-figures for the Lions with 16 points, followed by a career-high of 13 for Robbs and 10 points from senior Dacie Reutlinger (Owasso, Okla.).

Johnson paced the Griffons with 16 points, followed by 15 from Inga Buzoka and 10 by Brandi Rogers.

The Lions next face Southwest Baptist for the second time in eight days when they host the Lady Bearcats Wednesday night (Feb. 1) at 5:30 p.m. The Lions lost 69-62 to SBU in Bolivar, Mo. on Jan. 24.