FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 5, 2008

No. 16 Lions drop MIAA home opener to Missouri Western, 74-72

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. - The No. 16-ranked Missouri Southern Lions lost a see-saw affair to the Missouri Western Griffons, 74-72 in their MIAA home opener Saturday night (Jan. 5) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The game featured 18 lead changes, including 12 in the deciding second half.  With the game tied 57-57, the Griffons (6-4, 1-1 MIAA) took the lead for good on a layup from Chemia Woods with 8:31 remaining.

A pair of threes from Jill Johnson and Tierra Ford helped the Griffons build the advantage to 71-62 when the Lions (9-2, 0-2 MIAA) began making their surge.

The Lions out-scored Western 8-0 over the next 3:25 behind a jumper and a trey from Ela Zawadka.  One free throw from Fatai Hala'Api'Api brought Southern to within 71-70 with 1:34 left in the game.

Yanique Javois then split a pair of free throws for the Griffons, but the Lions failed to score on the offensive end and two free throws from Ford sealed the victory for Western.

Things started well for Southern as Zawadka and Danielle DeVader each connected from long-distance as the Lions jumped out to an 11-4 lead just 4:44 into the contest.

Fatai then scored the next seven Lion points over the next 3:09 to stretch the lead to 18-9 with 12:07 left in the first half.

MWSU answered with a 9-0 run and tied the score on a jumper from Colleen Schnieder at 18-18.

Ford gave the Griffons their first lead since the 19:25 mark on a three-pointer that made it 21-20 with 6:14 remaining in the opening half.

The Lions regained the lead at 27-26 on a trey from Zawadka but Javois answered with a three of her own to put Western back on top and the Griffons went on to lead 33-30 at the half.

Fatai scored 26, one off her career-high, to lead the Lions.  Fatai also tied for the team-lead with nine rebounds.  Tynesha Pierce recorded nine boards and Zawadka reached double-figures for Southern with 14.  Zawakda hit 5-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-6 from three-point distance.

Javois led the Griffons with 25 on 9-of-18 shooting.  Johnson scored 19 and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Western.  

The Lions will next host Pittsburg State on Wednesday night (Jan. 9).  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.  The Lions swept the series last year and have won four straight overall.

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