FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2008

Barnes/DeVader lead Lions over Truman, 71-56

Box Score

Kirksville, Mo.. - Myosha Barnes and Danielle DeVader combined for 34 points to lead the Missouri Southern Lions to a 71-65 win over the Truman Bulldogs in the MIAA opener for both teams Wednesday evening (Dec. 3) at Pershing Arena in Kirksville, Mo.

With the Lions leading 49-47 in the second half, DeVader nailed three treys on three consecutive possessions in a 9-5 spurt that gave the Lions a 58-52 lead with 8:00 remaining in the contest.

After the Bulldogs responded with a trey of their own from Breanna Daniels to pull within 58-55, the Lions pulled away with a 9-2 run that was capped by a trey from Jolea Apon that gave the Lions a 67-57 lead with 3:48 left.

The closest the Bulldogs got after that was four at 69-65 with 45 seconds left, but Barnes hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.

Neither squad could achieve much separation in the first half, with the largest advantage being a six-point lead for the Lions at 26-20 with 3:37 left.

The Bulldogs scored the next five points to trim the lead to one before Apon hit a layup with six seconds left to give the Lions a 28-25 lead at the half.

Barnes shot 8-of-11 from the floor to the Lions with 19 points and six assists, while DeVader scored 15 and hit 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Lindsey Davis had a team-high six boards for the Lions (6-0, 1-0 MIAA).

Malorie Kiecker led the Bulldogs (2-4, 0-1 MIAA) with 17 points and Georgia Mueller finished with 16 on 7-of-8 from the field.

The Lions followed up a 41.4 percent (12-of-29) shooting effort in the opening half with a blazing-hot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) performance in the second half.

The Lions will now prepare for their MIAA home opener with a matchup against Central Missouri on Saturday night (Dec. 6). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The Lions swept UCM last season, winning 85-82 in Warrensburg, Mo. and 64-53 at home.