Welch leads Lions past SBU, 72-62

Box Score


JOPLIN, Mo. -- Freshman Meghan Welch came up big and helped the Lions avenge last week's loss to Southwest Baptist.

The 5-foot-11 Welch scored a career- and team season-high 22 points, including 6-of-8 from three-point range, as Missouri Southern defeated Southwest Baptist, 72-62, Wednesday (Feb. 1) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Missouri Southern (14-7, 6-4 MIAA) led by as many as 16 in the second half, but the Lady Bearcats wouldn't go away. With five minutes left in the game, it was still anybody's contest, with SBU trimming the lead down to five points, 58-53.

But Welch came up with two big treys just over a minute apart. The second made it a nine-point bulge, 64-55, with 3:29 to play. The Lady Bearcats missed their last three shots from the field, including a three-pointer blocked away by Welch, and the Lions made 6-of-6 at the foul line in the final 1:03.

Southern's offense in the first half was supplied mainly by Welch and junior Dana-Mae Robbs. Welch scored 11 in the opening half, while Robbs scored eight and hit all four of her free throw tries.

The Lions led for most of the first half, gaining the lead for good on a three-pointer from Welch with 12:39 left in the opening half. Southern opened things up by outscoring SBU 14-2 over the final 3:58 of the first half, capped by a driving layup from sophomore Robin Kantin just before the horn.

In addition to Welch's 22 points, two other Lions also reached double-figure scoring. Senior Dacie Reutlinger scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Kantin scored 12 with a game-high nine boards, narrowly missing her third straight double-double. Kantin also charted five steals and Welch had four thefts.

Brito led the Lady Bearcats with 20 points, while Casey Beavers added 13 and Shewmaker scored 12.

The Lions won despite allowing SBU to shoot 59.1 percent in the second half (13-of-22). However, the Southern why it's are the MIAA's top-ranked defensive team against the three, holding the Lady Bearcats to only 25 percent (3-of-12) from beyond the arc for the game.

Southern shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the field for the game and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point distance.

MSSU will return to action Saturday (Feb. 4) at No. 1-ranked Washburn, a winner of 40 consecutive games. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.