What was billed as a battle of two of the nation's top defenses lived up to expectations as the Missouri Southern Lions (8-0, 2-0 MIAA) came away with a 66-62 win over seventh ranked Washburn University (7-1, 1-1 MIAA) Saturday evening inside Lee Arena.
The win over Washburn was the first win over a ranked opponent since the Lions defeated the then 20th ranked Ichabods 68-59 in Joplin on December 7, 2013. It was also the first time Southern defeated a top ten team since a 59-58 win over then third ranked Washburn on January 10, 2009 in Joplin.
Leading the way with her second-straight career night was Jenson Maydew with 14 points, 12 in the first half. Maydew was also the leader in rebounds with eight while Nic Hartzog added seven, and Sharese Jones pulled down six.
Southern and Washburn were both ranked in the top 15 in all of NCAA D2 in scoring defense with the Lions in second place allowing just 47.1 points per game and the Ichabods at eleventh allowing 52.7 points per game. The first half was a defensive showcase as both teams combined for six steals, six blocks, and 49 rebounds.
Both teams traded the lead back and forth as Camila Lacerda gave the Lions the 25-24 lead on a pair of free throws headed into halftime. For the half, Southern shot 35 percent (7-20) from the field and 57 percent (4-7) from downtown. Maydew was a perfect 3-3 from three point range to lead the Lions with 12 point and Hartzog led the way on the boards with six.
The second half saw an offensive explosion as both teams shot above 50 percent from the field and over 50 percent from three point range.
Southern came out of the locker room and pushed their lead up to seven at 31-24 on a three by Jordan Dinyerat the 19:14 mark. After a layup from Washburn, Jones answered with her own as the Lions once again led by seven with just over 18 minutes to play.
Washburn made a 7-0 run that included a jumper from Honor Duvall and threes from Casyn Buchman and Taylor Ignoto to give the Ichabods a 38-36 lead with 14:33 to play. The Lions answered right back with an 6-0 run of their own as the teams tied the game for the eighth, 46-46, and ninth, 48-48, time of the game before the Ichabods would take their largest lead of the night at 57-50 with 5:22 to play on a layup by Ignoto.
Southern whittled the lead down after a three from Dinyer, a pair of free throws from Hartzog, and a free throw from Lacerda. The Lions took the lead again at 58-57 as Jones sunk a layup from Hartzog with 3:21 to play. After a pair of free throws form Lex Fitzpatrick Southern had a 62-57 lead, but a jumper from Erika Lane and a three pointer from Buchman with just 53 seconds left tied the game for a tenth time at 62-62.
Coming out of a time out Lacerda had an open look from beyond the arc on the left wing that hit the front of the rim. Duvall controlled the rebound for Washburn before Hartzog came away with the steal. A missed layup from Hartzog was rebounded by Jones as she was fouled by Duvall to give the Lions free throws with 25 seconds left. After converting the double bonus Washburn missed a jumper to tie the game Maydew came up with the rebound and found a streaking Lacerda down the right side for a wide open layup and the 66-62 win.
Up next for Southern is Truman State on Monday December 15. Tip off for that game is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
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