Defense key as MSSU women drop Northeastern State 50-34

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern women's basketball team held visiting Northeastern State to just nine points and eight percent from the field in the first half as the Lions cruised to a 50-34 win in MIAA action today on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

Southern (8-4, 2-3 MIAA) was led offensively by Sharese Jones with 15 points and ten rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Lex Fitzpatrick and Camila Lacerda scored nine points each with Lacerda adding five assists and Fitzpatrick going 3-5 from long-range.

NSU (8-5, 4-2 MIAA) was led by six points each from Kate Bellamy and Chelsey Beathard.

The Lions opened up the scoring with a three from Hartzog just a little over a minute into the game. After a layup from NSU's Bellamy with 15:56 to go, the Lions clamped on the defense and poured on the offense. Southern went on a 13-0 run over the next ten minutes and led 18-4 after a layup from Jones with 6:05 left in the first half. NSU went 0-10 during that stretch as the Lions forced six RiverHawks turnovers. 

NSU scored five points in the final 15:56 minutes of the half, all on free-throws. During the final 10:39, however, the Lions were 9-14 from the field and 3-5 from long-range as Southern went into the locker room with a  28-9 halftime lead. 

A three from Jones midway through the second half, gave the Lions a 38-18 lead, and a three from the RiverHawks' Alexis Hill got NSU to within 11 (43-32) with 7:31 to go in the game. A pair of freebies from Tami Morice with just under three to go gave the Lions a 50-34 lead, and that proved to be the game's final tally. 

Southern shot 44 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free throw line. The Lions held an 18-12 advantage in the paint, an 8-2 mark on fast-break points and the Southern bench out scored the NSU reserves 18-9. The Lions held NSU to just 22 percent from the field and 24 percent from long-range. 

Southern will be back in action on January 15 when the Lions travel to St. Charles to take on Lindenwood University. Tip off is slated for 5:30 pm.