Big fourth quarter lifts PSU women to 77-62 win over Southern

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The 11th ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas used a 30-14 fourth quarter to put away a pesky Missouri Southern women's basketball program 77-62 in front of more than 1,900 fans at the Leggett & Platt Athleitc Center.

Southern (11-11, 6-7 MIAA) was led in scoring by Desirea Buerge with 19 points as she went 7-11 from the field and 2-3 from long range, adding 10 rebounds for the double-double. Deb Holcomb scored 11 points, while Jasmine Green had eight and Shannon Mitchell scored seven.

Pitt (19-3, 11-2 MIAA) had three score in double-figures led by 19 points from Mikaela Burgess as Paige Lungwitz scored 18.

Pitt opened up a 13-7 lead late in the first quarter, and led 15-9 with 1:23 left, but back-to-back layups from Buerge cut the lead to 15-13 with 40 seconds left and that's how the first quarter ended.

A layup from Buerge with 7:31 left in the second and a pair of freebies from Buerge with 7:04 left gave the Lions a 22-21 lead. Another free throw, this time from Chelsey Henry gave the Lions a 23-21 lead.

A layup from Amelia Bramer capped an 8-0 run from the Lions and gave Southern a 28-21 lead. A separate 5-0 run from Southern then pushed the lead to ten (33-23) after a layup from Mitchell with 2:36 left to go. However, the Gorillas used an 8-0 run of their own to end the half, with the Lions leading 33-31 at the break.

Pitt opened up a six-point lead (43-37) with 6:04 left in the third quarter, but the Lions used an 11-4 run to close the quarter and take a 48-47 lead into the final frame.

Pitt, however, outscored the Lions 30-14 in the final frame and after opening the fourth quarter on a 20-8 run the Gorillas led by 11 (67-56 with 4:36 to go. The lead would reach 19 (75-56) before a 6-2 run to close the game by the Lions provided the final tally.

Southern shot 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from long-range, making 79 percent of its free-throws. The Gorillas shot 60 percent from the field, but made just 50 percent of their free-throws.

Southern will be back in action on Feb. 9 as the Lions head to Southwest Baptist. Tip off is slated for 5:30 pm.