MSSU women fall to Newman 55-51

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Wichita, Kan. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team fell victim to a late comeback from Newman as the Lions dropped a closely contest game inside Fugate Gymnasium today, 55-51.

A defensive battle in the first quarter, the Lions (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) led 9-7 after a Kaitlin Hunnicutt three to close out the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to the Lions, as Southern jumped out to a 14-3 run, with the Lions limiting the Jets (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) to shooting 20 percent from the field during the quarter.

Hunnicutt got the scoring going in the quarter with a pull-up jumper on the Lions' first possession. Sophomore center Madi Stokes connected on her two free throws the next possession before Hunnicutt answered a Jets three with a three of her own.

In the first half, the Lions shot 43 percent from behind the three-point line, while limiting the Jets to 21 percent from the field.

In the third quarter the Lions and Jets traded blows late as they jousted for the lead.

Southern had the lead stretched to six with 2:52 remaining after a Hunnicutt fast break layup from a Brooke Stauffer steal and assist. Amaya Johns sank both of her free throws after being fouled with 0.6 seconds reaming in the quarter to give the Lions a two-point lead after three.

The fourth quarter was a tug-of-war between the Jets and Southern that came down to the last 1:52 remaining.

Johns hit one free throw to push the Lions' lead to 49-47, before the Jets answered back with two made free throws to even up the score. Johns sank both free throws with a minute remaining to push the Southern lead back up to two, but Newman hit a three on the ensuing possession taking the lead for good. The Lions got off two three pointers to tie with both being no good.

Southern was led in scoring by Johns with 13 points as she went 7-of-10 from the free throw line. Stokes and Hunnicutt scored ten points each.

The Jets had two score ten points each led by ten points and two rebounds each from Rylee Meloy and Brooke Haney.

Southern held Newman to 28 percent from the field and 27 from behind the three-point line, while the Lions shot 33 percent from the field.

Up next the Lions travel to Warrensburg to take on the Jennies of Central Missouri next Tuesday with tip-off slated for 5:30 pm inside the Multipurpose Building.

MSSU men defeated Newman 82-79

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Wichita, Kan. - Both Kyle Younge and Stan Scott recorded career-highs and the 21st ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball program held off a furious comeback from Newman as the Lions defeated the Jets 82-79 inside Fugate Gymnasium today.

Southern (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) was led by a career-high 23 points from Younge as he went 9-of-15 from the field and a career-high five three pointers. 

Scott had a career high 19 points on 8-of-12 from the field. Cam Martin scored 21 points on 8-of-11 from the field and added 11 rebounds and seven assists, going over 1,500 points in his career. Martin has 1,514 points, just six from tying Chris Tucker for ninth place on the MSSU all-time scoring list.

Newman (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) was led by 23 points from Branden Brunn as Joel Boyce scored 13 and Tyjil Hereford scored 10.

The Jets jumped out to a 5-4 lead, but Southern went on a 9-1 run off of seven points from Younge and a fast-break bucket from Scott gave the Lions a 14-6 lead with 12:36 left in the half. Another three from Young, his third of the half, gave the Lions a 21-15 lead with 8:24 to go and a three from Martin a minute later made the lead 24-15.

A layup from Winston Dessesow with 5:37 to go gave the Lions a 28-19 lead and a layup from Scott with four minutes left pushed the Southern lead to 32-19. Back-to-back buckets from Younge made the lead 16 (37-21) a minute later. Younge's fifth three of the half, this time with a minute to go, gave the Lions a 41-26 lead and a late bucket from Scott gave the Lions a 43-27 lead going into the locker room at the break.

Martin started the half with a baseline jumper that gave him 1,500 career points at Missouri Southern and gave the Lions a 45-27 lead. A layup from Scott with 16:50 left pushed the lead to 14 (50-36) and a three from Scott with just under 15 to go made the score 55-39 Lions. A jumper from Martin with 13:17 on the clock gave the Lions a 60-47 lead, and another three from Scott gave the Lions a 63-50 lead with 11:45 to go.

A pair of free throws from Christian Bundy and a bucket from Martin gave the Lions an 81-69 lead with four minutes to go, but the Jets answered back and cut the lead to six (81-75) with 2:12 to go after a jumper from Newman's Boyce. A pair of free throws from Newman with 1:21 left got Newman within four (81-77) and another pair of freebies made it a two-point game with 39 seconds to go.

Bundy made a free throw with 18 seconds left and an 82-79 lead for the Lions and gave Newman the ball, however stopping a 10-0 run by the Jets.

The Lions shot 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three-point line, while making 70 percent from the charity stripe. Southern held a 40-22 advantage with points in the paint and out rebounded Newman 43-34.

Southern will be back in action on Tuesday night when the Lions travel to Central Missouri for a 7:30 pm tip inside the Multipurpose Building.

MSSU Athletics unveils new logo, initiative to raise awareness of social injustice, other concerns

(From MSSU Athletics)

The Missouri Southern Athletic Department Thursday unveiled a new 'We Are One MOSO' hashtag and logo as part of other diversity and inclusion initiatives both within the department and University-wide.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Diversity Sub-Committee is spearheading a campaign of ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Sub-Committee, which consists of SAAC members and other student-athletes, have agreed that as players they all compete, cheer for, hug, cry, win, lose and stand together as equal teammates. 

Every teammate matters and each sport would not be able to compete as well as they do without the support of each other. Beyond their MSSU uniforms, the committee states that student-athletes come from different backgrounds and the phrase 'We Are One' is what they feel embodies all that student-athletes are.

The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of social injustice, inequity concerns, and other issues facing the student body - such as mental health, sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide awareness and disabilities.

The department believes its student-athletes and staff recognize the mission, values, and goals of the University. We want to take the pledge to stand against and dismantle conditions and structures that have suppressed people of any color.

Layne Skiles of the women's basketball team spoke about what this means to her.

"I am so grateful and excited to be a part of a generation here at Missouri Southern that is really taking a stand to unite and stand up for what we believe in," Skiles said. "Spreading awareness and making our support known for all athletes of all racial and ethnic backgrounds is something so special and important that empowers the athletes that wear the Southern uniform. With the huge steps MSSU is taking, I believe we will make a huge change."

Cassie Walton of the volleyball team talked about how the hashtag could both unite and bring about awareness.

"Our hashtag 'We Are One MOSO' means we stand together united as a school and are aware of the injustice happening around us," Walton said. "We hope our hashtag will help people tell their stories and start conversations about the racial inequality that is happening now."