MSSU women fail to overcome early deficit in 70-60 loss to Bearcats

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Bolivar, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions fell behind early and without their top scorer, could not over come the early deficit as they fell 70-60 to Southwest Baptist on Thursday evening on John Q. Hammons Court.

Senior Deb Holcomb only played the first eight minutes of the game for the Lions (11-12, 6-8 MIAA), before succumbing to an injury while driving to the bucket. Southern got a career-high 13 points from junior Jasmine Green, which tied her previous mark at Washburn on January 19, and double digits from both sophomore Desirea Buerge 11 pts, and junior Kayla Kivinski, 10 points. Southwest Baptist (14-9, 6-8 MIAA) was led by Megan Rosenbohm with 20 points and Aliyah Isaac with 11.

The Bearcats got things going on the opening possession with Rosenbohm draining a three from the right corner and SBU, coming off the upset of nationally ranked Central Oklahoma, never looked back for the 70-60 win. SBU benefited from a 15-2 run in the opening quarter to take a 24-10 lead into the quarter break. The second quarter saw Southern cut the lead down to single digits, 28-21, on a pair of free throws from Green at the 6:39 mark that capped off a 9-0 run. A three from Green made it a five point ball game at 30-25 with just under two and half before halftime. A pair of free throws from Buerge with 29 seconds left got the Lions the closest in the half, since 3-2 in the opening minutes, before a desperation three was banked in at the buzzer to give SBU a 35-29 lead going into the locker room.

The Lions chipped away in the third quarter getting the game within two points, 47-45, after back-to-back three pointers from junior Jensen Maydew at the 3:26 mark. The two teams traded buckets for the remainder of the quarter as the Bearcats took a 52-49 lead into the final quarter. Southwest Baptist opened the fourth on a 15-2 run to put the game out of reach of the Lions, but Southern closed the game on an 8-0 run to make it 70-60.

Southern shot 35.7 percent (20-for-56) from the field wile the Bearcats finished 30-for-62 for 48.4 percent. SBU also out rebounded the Lions 47-28 but went just 4-for-11 from the free throw line while Southern finished 15-for-20.

The Lions will be back on the road this Saturday as they travel to Warrensburg for a matchup with 15th ranked Central Missouri. Tip off from the UCM Multipurpose Building is slated for 1:30 p.m.