FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 27, 2008

Lions pick up key road victory at Pitt State, 70-53

Box Score

Pittsburg, Kan. - The Missouri Southern Lions made seven three pointers in the first half and picked up a key MIAA road win tonight, 70-53 at John Lance Arena in Pittsburg.

Southern (18-8, 9-8 MIAA) trailed 15-14 at the 12:11 mark of the first half, but four consecutive three's, two from Ella Zawadka and one each from Robin Kantin and India Wood, made the score 26-15, just three minutes later.

Pittsburg State (10-16, 4-13 MIAA) went nearly five minutes without a basket, before a layup from Linda Igbinigie with 7:10 left, cut the Southern lead to 26-17. Another three from Kantin made the score 29-17 and the Lions would go into the locker room, up 34-21 at the half.

Southern hit 7-12 from long range in the half, led by 10 points from Wood.

The Lions pushed their lead to 18 at 39-21 just a minute into the second half, but a 16-4 run by the Gorillas chipped into the Southern lead and made the score 43-37 at 14:55. A three from Danielle DeVader, however, stopped the run and pushed the Lions lead back to nine (46-37).

A basket from PSU's Marissa Poppe at the 11:02 mark cut the Southern lead to just seven (48-41). Four free throws from Fatai Hala'Api'Api and Tynesha Pierce made the score 54-45 and a bucket from Pierce on the next trip down pushed the Lions lead back to double-digits at 56-45 with eight minutes to go.

A three point play from Hala'Api'Api with 4:32 left in the game, gave the Lions a 12 point lead at 64-48. The Lions outscored Pitt 6-5 over the final four minutes to win, 70-53.

Southern had four players in double-figures led by 14 points from Wood. She added six assists, a block and one steal. Hala'Api'Api and Zawadka both scored 11 points, while Pierce had ten. Kantin scored eight points, while playing in 32 minutes. Southern out scored PSU 30-16 in the paint and the MSSU bench out scored the PSU bench 30-6.

Southern will finish off the regular season this Saturday with a trip to St. Joseph, taking on Missouri Western. Tip off is slated for 5:30 PM. One more win will equal the most in one season for Maryann Mitts at Southern.