|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lions continue
momentum with 62-54 win over Fort Hays State Joplin, Mo. - Just two days after knocking off the No. 3-ranked Washburn Lady Blues, the Missouri Southern Lions kept the momentum going with a 62-54 win over the Fort Hays State Lady Tigers Monday night (Jan. 12) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The victory brings head coach Maryann Mitts to within three games of passing Jim Phillips for first-place on the MSSU all-time wins list. The score was tied at 40 when the Lions scored seven straight off of threes from Jolea Apon and Danielle DeVader to lead 47-40 with 11:45 remaining. The Lady Tigers trimmed the lead to three on a jumper by Kayla Klug and a pair of free throws by Naomi Bancroft, but India Wood scored five of the Lions' next seven points for a 54-45 cushion with just 5:22 left and the Lions never trailed by less than seven from that point. FHSU led early 9-5 when the Lions scored the next eight points also on the strength of treys by Apon and DeVader. The Lions led 17-14 when Apon hit two more threes to help Southern jump out to a 25-14 advantage with 6:07 left in the opening half. The Lady Tigers made it competitive by ending the first half on a 12-3 run, including a three at the buzzer by Naomi Bancroft that cut the Lions' lead to 28-26 at the half.. Apon led the Lions with 14 points and hit 4-of-6 from three-point distance. Barnes scored 13 and had a team-high six rebounds. DeVader added 11 and made 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Klug and Erica Biel each scored 15 to lead the Lady Tigers. Bancroft finished with 13. Morgan Clark had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The Lions' defensive effort held the Lady Tigers to only 36.2 percent (21-of-58) shooting overall and 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from beyond the arc. The Lions shot a solid 46.8 percent (22-of-47) from the floor and 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from three-point distance. Next up for the Lions is a road matchup at Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday evening (Jan. 17) at 5 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the Lions and UNO since the 1987-88 season. |