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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Late first-half spurt
leads Mavericks to 68-57 win over Lions Joplin, Mo. - The Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks concluded the first half by out-scoring the Missouri Southern Lions by 16 points that turned an eight-point deficit into an eight-point halftime lead in a 68-57 win Wednesday evening (Feb. 25) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. With the loss, the Lions fall into a fifth-place in the MIAA with the Mavericks with identical 11-8 conference marks. Nichole Helfrich scored a pair of buckets in the first two minutes of the second half that trimmed the lead to six on two occasions. The Mavericks expanded the lead to 15 with a 9-0 run that was capped by a three-point play by Amanda Brodsack for a 42-27 advantage with 14:54 left. Brodsack then scored the Mavericks' next eight points and hit a three to give UNO a commanding 50-32 lead at the 11:48 mark of the second half. The Lions fought back as Devader nailed a three and Helfrich made a layup and two free throws to bring Southern within 50-39. Southern trailed 52-41 and had possession with a chance to bring the lead down to single-digits, but failed to take advantage by committing a turnover. The Mavericks scored the next six points to build the lead to 16 with 7:12 remaining and maintained at least a 12-point advantage from that point. Myosha Barnes and Lindsey Davis helped the Lions get off to a quick start by combining to score the team’s first eight points and then a three by Danielle DeVader gave the Lions an 11-4 lead six minutes in. Jolea Apon shortly after nailed a three and Barnes and Michelle Hedgecock each hit a layup as the Lions built the lead to 18-9 with 11:11 left in the opening half. After Davis gave the Lions a 22-14 advantage at the 7:04 mark of the first half, the Mavericks began a surge that saw them out-score the Lions 17-1 the remainder of the half for a 31-23 lead at the break. Alyssa Green scored seven during that span to fuel the charge for the Mavericks. Barnes tied her career-high with 20 points to lead the Lions. Helfrich added 10 points. DeVader had a team-high seven boards for Southern. Brodsack led all-scorers with 24 and also had nine rebounds. Green finished with 15, while LaToya Wright had a game-high 10 boards for UNO (15-10, 11-8 MIAA). The Lions will finish the regular season by hosting Northwest Missouri State on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 28) at 1 p.m. The Lions defeated Northwest Missouri 64-47 in the season's first meeting (Jan. 21) in Maryville, Mo.
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