Tahlequah, Okla. - After trailing by as many as 12, the Missouri Southern Lions battled back to force overtime, but fell short by two points (66-64) to the Northeastern State RiverHawks inside the NSU Event Center Thursday evening.
The Lions (11-6, 3-4 MIAA) finished with three players in double-figures, including senior guard Chelsey Henry who registered a team-high 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Junior forward Chasidee Owens added 12 points and also grabbed eight rebounds while junior guard Destiny Cozart recorded 11 points (all in the second half), six rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Henry's point total moved her up to 12th (1,124) on the MSSU All-Time scoring list, surpassing Caryn Shumaker (1,113) who played from 1987 to 1991.
NSU (4-12, 1-6 MIAA) jumped out to an 8-2 advantage going into the first media timeout and then upped the lead to nine on a 3-pointer from the far corner to cap off a 11-2 run. The Lions responded with an 11-2 run while holding the RiverHawks to a 1-of-8 stretch in a span of approximately four minutes.
Freshman Layne Skiles scored from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to four, followed by back-to-back free throws from Morgan Brightwell to only be down a bucket at the 2:29 mark. The Lions' attack continued with a layup from Owens and a jumper from Henry after a steal by Cozart to tie it up at 13-13.
Down two heading into the second quarter, the Lions traded baskets with the RiverHawks to tie twice until they broke it and went up 20-19 for their first lead of the game at the 3:34 mark.
Northeastern State went back up by five and ended the first half scoring seven-straight points to head into the break up 32-25 after the Lions tied it up at 25-25 with 1:51 left.
The Lions battled back to be within five entering the fourth after the RiverHawks peaked with a 12-point advantage and four minutes left in the third quarter. Back-to-back buckets by Skiles pulled the Lions to within a single basket at the 6:32 mark and then the offense picked it up with a small 6-0 run to tie the RiverHawks at 60 apiece. NSU retook the lead causing the Lions to call a 30-second timeout with 16 seconds remaining in regulation.
Out of the timeout, Owens dribbled it all the way to the right side of the lane and beat her guard by putting up a shot high off the glass, which fell in to force overtime.
Both teams went scoreless through the first 4:25 of overtime until the Lions went up two on Henry's two free throws (64-62). NSU responded by converting two free throws of their own and then got the ball back on a turnover that set up for the game-winner as the Lions fell by two in overtime.
Bailee Eldred paced the RiverHawks with 25 points (8-for-14) and ten rebounds to lead all scorers.
The Lions are right back at it on Saturday in Edmond for a matchup with Central Oklahoma at 1:30 pm.
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