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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pierce leads Lions to
thrilling 76-75 win over Fort Hays Joplin, Mo. -- Senior Tynesha Pierce poured in a career-high 28 points to lead the Missouri Southern Lions to a dramatic, 76-75 win over the Fort Hays State Lady Tigers Saturday night (Feb. 9) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The win is the Lions seventh in their last nine outings and put them at 16-5 overall and 7-5 in the MIAA. FHSU goes to 9-12 overall and 3-9 in conference action. Trailing 70-64 with 5:09 remaining, Pierce scored six points to lead a 10-2 spurt and gave the Lions the lead for good at 74-72 on a layup with 2:08 left. Lindsey Davis then made one free throw to give Southern a three-point advantage, but Raychel Boling and Meshia Mason each made one freebie to pull the Lady Tigers to within one at 75-74 with 51 seconds left. Each squad then exchanged free throw makes over the next 17 seconds and the Lions led 76-75 with seven seconds left. The Lady Tigers had possession but failed to get off a shot in the final seconds as the Lions hung on for the victory. The Lions got off to a hot start as India Wood nailed a three that gave Southern an 11-3 lead early on. Danielle DeVader and Wood then each hit a three-pointer as the Lions extended the lead to 19-7 with 12:21 left in the first half. Southern led 29-21 when FHSU began their march back into the game. The Lady Tigers out-scored the Lions 11-2 over the next 3:46 to take their first lead of the game at 32-31 on a layup from Sheena Kuntzsch with 26 seconds remaining in the opening half. Kuntzsch then made a free throw that put Hays up 33-31, but Ela Zawadka knocked home a trey as the clock expired in the first half to give the Lions a 34-33 lead heading into the half. Zawadka also reached double-figures for Southern with 16 points. India Wood scored nine and dished out a game-high seven assists. Pierce and Davis were both solid defensively, combining for seven steals. Erica Biel and Boling each scored 14 to pace four Lady Tigers in double-figures. Naomi Bancroft had 13 and Kayla Klug added 10. The overall rebounds were even at 30, with the Lions holding a 22-17 advantage in defensive rebounds and FHSU leading 13-8 on the offensive glass. MSSU held the Lady Tigers to only a 40.8 percent (20-of-49) for the game. The Lions recorded a solid 53.2 percent (25-of-47) shooting clip, along with 40 percent (6-of-15) from three-point distance. The Lions will now embark on a two-game road trip, beginning with a date at current No. 22-ranked Emporia State on Wednesday night (Feb. 13).
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