FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 10, 2009

Lions upset No. 3-ranked Washburn in wild, 59-58 victory

Box Score

Joplin, Mo.  - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team snapped a late tie with two critical free throws and defeated the No. 3-ranked Washburn Lady Blues 59-58 Saturday evening (Jan. 10) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.  The win is the Lions' ninth over a ranked opponent during Maryann Mitts' eight seasons at the helm and is the second straight season they have defeated WU as a nationally ranked squad.

With the score tied at 57-57, Nichole Helfrich made a pair of free throws that put the Lions up by one with 41 seconds remaining.

After the Lions got a defensive stop on the other end, Myosha Barnes then split two shots at the charity stripe that gave the Lions a 59-57 lead with just 16 seconds left.

Things got interesting from that point, as the Lions forced a missed shot on the defensive end, but were called for a foul with seemingly no time left on the clock.

After a review to check the time remaining, Karla Tailele stepped to the free-throw line with no time left on the clock for the Lady Blues and a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Tailele made the first one and then missed the second to send the Lions to the big victory.

The Lions (10-4, 4-3 MIAA) led nearly throughout, as they jumped out to a quick 10-2 advantage behind five points from Barnes.

A three by Wood helped the Lions build the lead to 26-13 with 7:01 left in the first half.  The Lions went on to lead 32-27 at the half.

Southern maintained the lead until the Lady Blues (13-2, 6-2 MIAA) went on a 9-3 spurt capped by a layup from Stanecia Graham with 3:52 left to lead for the first time since 2-0.

Wood scored a game-high 21 to lead the Lions and also hit 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Barnes finished with 11, while Lindsey Davis and Danielle DeVader each added 10. 

Janice Bright led the Lady Blues with 20 and Graham finished with 10. 

The Lions shot 33.3 percent (18-of-54) from the field while holding the Lady Blues to a 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting clip.

The Lions will now have a quick turnaround and will host Fort Hays State on Monday night (Jan. 12) at 5:30 p.m.  The Lions split with FHSU last year, with the home team winning each contest.