FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 7, 2007

Kantin's outburst helps Lions to 15-point win at Panhandle State

Box Score

Goodwell, Okla. - Robin Kantin went on a 7-0 run of her own in the second half to help vault the Missouri Southern Lions to a pivotal 59-44 regional win tonight at Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

Southern (7-0) fell down 7-0 early to the Lady Aggies, but a jumper from Tynesha Pierce put the Lions on the board.

A layup from OPSU's (4-4) Ro Wilson made the score 9-2, but jumpers from Fatai Hala'Api'Api and India Wood, as well as a three from Robin Kantin tied the game at nine at the 13 minute mark.

A three from Trice Bonner with 10 minutes left gave Southern its first lead of the game at 15-13 and a jumper from Ela Zawadka a minute later pushed the Lions' lead to 17-14 with 9:41 left. The Lady Aggies went on a 7-0 run behind a three from Sarah Polson and a jumper from Alisha Sladek, as well as a layup from Cherrelle Tills, giving OSPU a 20-17 lead with 4:58 left.

After a Lady Aggie free throw, Kantin and Wood hit back-to-back jumpers to tie the game at 21 heading into the locker room at the half.

Wood put the Lions back on top hitting a jumper right out of the locker room to start the half. Back-to-back scores from Pierce extended the Lions' lead to 29-24 with 17:32 left in the game, but a three from Polson got the Lady Aggies back to within one, (29-28) with 16:37 left.

That would be as close as OSPU would get. A three from Kantin gave the Lions a nine point advantage (45-36) with 8:26 left and a three from Pierce just 26 seconds later made the lead 11. The Lions would lead by as much as 17 after a three from India Wood, her third of the game, made the score 59-42 with three minutes left.

Kantin led all scorers with 18 points. She added four assists. Wood had 15 points and nine rebounds on 6-11 shooting, while Pierce had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Hala'Api'Api added six points, six rebounds and three blocks.

The Lions rebounded to shoot 56 percent from the field in the second half, while limiting OPSU to just 25 percent in the game.

Southern will be back in action on Monday, December 17 when the Lions travel to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on the Lady Riverhawks of Northeastern State. Tip off is slated for 5:30 pm.