FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 7, 2009

Lions drop 83-69 decision to Emporia State in second round of MIAA Tournament

Box Score

Kansas City, Mo. -  Jolea Apon hit a jumper with 4:51 left in the first half to tie the score at 29-29, but the Emporia State Lady Hornets scored the last 16 points of the half and went on to an 83-69 win over the Missouri Southern Lions to advance to the MIAA Tournament championship Saturday evening (Mar. 7) at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

Southern (19-10) still trailed by 16 early in the second half when the Lady Hornets opened up their biggest lead by scoring the next six points to go up by 22 with 14:08 left in the contest.

Apon kept the Lions within shouting distance by scoring eight points during an 11-0 run as the Lions came within 59-48.

But the Lady Hornets (25-4) kept the Lions at arms length and slowly put the game away by out-scoring Southern 16-7 over the next five minutes to lead 75-55 with 6:14 left. Ida Edwards scored six points during the ESU surge.

Barnes led the Lions with a career-high tying 20 points and also a team-high four assists. Apon and Wood each scored 13, with Helfrich adding 12. Danielle DeVader pulled down a team-best six boards.

Edwards paced the Lady Hornets with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Boston scored 15 along with five assists.

The Lions' 19 victories on the season ties for the most during head coach Maryann Mitts' eight seasons at the helm.

The Lions started strong and led 11-5 after a layup from Myosha Barnes and then 14-7 after Apon nailed a three at the 13:41 mark of the first half.

Cassondra Boston hit a three for ESU that started a 7-0 spurt that evened the score at 14-14.

After India Wood scored to put the Lions up 20-18, the Lady Hornets went on a 10-4 spurt to go up 28-24 with 5:57 remaining in the opening half.