With the win, SBU gained a split in the season series after the Lions bested the Lady Bearcats 58-55 earlier this year (Jan. 19) in Joplin.

The Lions (16-7, 7-7 MIAA) trimmed an early 10-point deficit in the second half down to two by out-scoring SBU 11-3 over a 4:34 stretch. Tynesha Pierce scored seven points, including converting a three-point play that brought the Lions to within 35-33 with 14:57 remaining.

SBU regained the momentum with a quick 6-0 spurt as Kelly Reinkemeyer knocked in a pair of free throws that gave the Lady Bearcats a 41-33 lead.

Southern then trailed 43-35 when Danielle DeVader hit a three and Pierce made a layup that cut the lead to 43-40 with 10:34 left.

After the Lady Bearcats responded with a 10-4 run that increased the lead to nine, the Lions came right back to within three with a 6-0 run and trailed only 53-50 with 4:38 left in the game.

But after the Lions got a defensive stop to gain possession down only three, Courtney Creed came up with a critical steal and went the length of the court for a layup that gave SBU a 55-50 advantage.

The Lady Bearcats (18-5, 10-4 MIAA) then put it away by scoring the next five points to take a double-digit lead at 60-50 with only 40 seconds remaining.

Four turnovers in the game's final 1:57 thwarted any opportunity that the Lions had of getting back into the game.

Pierce got the Lions going in the opening moments of the contest by hitting a layup and converting a three-point play to give the Lions an early 5-0 lead.

Southern held SBU scoreless through the first 4:37 of the game. The Lady Bearcats then got things rolling with a 15-5 run as Cortney Shewmaker made a three to put SBU up 15-10.

The Lions fought back to 15-13 before the Lady Bearcats out-scored the Lions 14-5 to go ahead 29-18 on another trey from Creed with 2:00 left in the opening half.

Ivaney Marquez and Fatai Hala'Api'Api each made a layup in the final 1:46 of the first half that helped pull the Lions to within 30-22 at the break.

Tynesha Pierce led the Lions with a game-high 20 points, while Fatai scored 12 and led the Lions with 10 rebounds. India Wood had 12 and a team-high five assists.

Kelly Reinkemeyer led three Lady Bearcats in double-figures with 16 and Shewmaker wound up with 13. The Lions did a good job on Erica Souza, holding her to 11 points on only 3-of-14 shooting. Souza entered the contest averaging nearly 20 points a game.

The Lions shot 35.3 (18-of-51) from the field overall, but only 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. SBU had a 37.5 percent (21-of-56) overall shooting clip.

Missouri Southern will now return home for their final two home games of the season, beginning with Central Missouri on Wednesday night (Feb. 20) at 5:30 p.m. at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Lions won the first matchup this season (Jan. 12) against UCM 85-82 in Warrensburg, Mo.