FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 6, 2008

Jennies hand Lions first loss of season, 59-52

Box Score

Joplin, Mo.. - The Central Missouri Jennies handed the Missouri Southern Lions their first loss of the season in a defensive struggle, 59-52 Saturday evening (Dec. 6) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Michelle Hedgecock hit a jumper to give the Lions a 30-24 advantage early in the second half with 16:34 remaining before the Jennies made their push.

UCM out-scored the Lions 20-8 over the next six minutes as Melia Pence put in 15 points and hit three shots from beyond the arc to spark the burst and put the Jennies up 44-38.

The Lions (6-1, 1-1 MIAA) come to within three on a pair of occasions, with the last being at 50-47 with 4:35 left on two free throws from Myosha Barnes.

The Lions then had possession with a chance to trim the lead to one or tie with a three, but a turnover and a three-pointer by Renae Shippy made the deficit 53-47 and the Jennies hung on from there for the victory.

Offense was hard to come by throughout, but particularly in the first half when both squads shot under 30 percent from the floor. 

A three and a pair of free throws from Danielle DeVader gave the Lions their largest lead of the night at 19-10, but the Jennies closed out the opening half on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 21-18 at the half.

DeVader led the Lions with 14 points and Barnes scored 13 and hit 7-of-8 from the foul line.  Nichole Helfrich had a team-high 10 rebounds.

Pence was the lone Jennie in double-figures with a game-high 17 points.

The Lions managed to hold the Jennies (5-1, 2-0 MIAA) to 32.8 percent (19-of-58) from the field and 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from three-point distance.

Southern shot 34.7 percent (17-of-49) from the field and 25 percent (3-of-12) from beyond the arc. 

The Lions will now take eight days off before heading to Texas for a pair of matchups in the Lone Star State.  First, the Lions will battle Texas A&M International in Laredo, Texas on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. MSSU will then play Texas A&M Kingsville two days later (Dec. 17) in Kingsville, Texas at 7 p.m.