FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 31, 2008

Wood hits two big late threes to propel Lions to 58-57 win over Griffons

Box Score

Joplin, Mo.  - Senior India Wood nailed a pair of critical three-pointers to lead the Missouri Southern Lions past the Missouri Western Griffons 58-57 on New Year's Eve afternoon (Dec. 31) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The Lions trailed by four at 46-42 at the 5:54 mark of the second half when Myosha Barnes hit a jumper to cut the lead to two and later a three from Jolea Apon tied the score at 47-47 with 4:29 remaining.

After a Tierra Ford layup and a London Houchin free throw gave the Griffons the lead back at 51-49, Apon nailed another trey to give the Lions the lead for good with 2:53 left.

The Lions maintained the one-point lead until Wood hit from beyond the arc to put the Lions up by four at 55-51 with 1:41 left.

Lauren Nolke kept the Griffons alive by connecting from long-range to pull Western within 55-54, but Wood again hit from three-point distance to give the Lions a 58-54 cushion with just seven seconds left.

Nolke hit a three as the buzzer sounded to pull the Griffons within the final one-point margin.

The Griffons (0-11, 0-5 MIAA) got off to a quick start as Ford and Nolke combined for 10 points during the opening five minutes of the opening half as Western jumped out to a 14-6 lead with 13:22 left in the opening half.

The Lions (9-2, 3-1 MIAA) battled back behind three treys from leading scorer Danielle DeVader to go on a 15-6 run and lead 21-20 with 5:55 remaining in the opening half.

The score was tied 27-27 at the half.

The Lions were led by Barnes' 16-point effort and seven assists.  DeVader also reached double-figures with 11 points.

Nolke scored 17 to lead a trio of Griffons in double-figures.  Ford scored 12 and Jessica Koch added 10. 

Southern pulled out the victory despite managing only a 31.7 percent (19-of-60) shooting clip from the field.  The Griffons shot 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the floor.

The Griffons out-rebounded the Lions 41-36 overall but the Lions held a 14-10 edge on the offensive glass.

The Lions will remain at home for a Saturday night (Jan. 3) meeting with Pittsburg State at 5:30 p.m.  The Lions and Gorillas split the season series last year, with each school winning on the road.