The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Missouri Southern Sports

Related Photos

  • Globe/T. Rob Brown MSSU's Shatara Stone goes up for a shot as Mary's Brittney Dietz plays defense Friday afternoon, Nov. 9, 2012, at Pittsburg State University's John Lance Arena.

    110912 MvMSSU wbkb2_72.jpg

Discussion

November 11, 2012

MSSU women open home schedule tonight

By Jim Henry Globe Sports Editor

The simplest cure for inexperience is to play games.

Missouri Southern’s women’s basketball team makes its home debut tonight against Manhattan Christian. Tipoff is at 5:30.

It’s the Lions’ third game in four days after going 1-1 in the Pittsburg State Tipoff Classic. Missouri Southern lost to Mary (N.D.) 78-61 in its season debut and beat Southwest Minnesota State 73-65 on Saturday.

“It’s a great thing,” Mitts said of the quick return to game action. “We need to play ball games. We need to get comfortable in our roles and our rotation. The more games we can play, the more we can reproduce the intensity of what happened Saturday and the more confidence our team will get.

“They are all learning a new system. I can tell them all I want this system was good enough for a third-place tie (in the MIAA) two years ago, but they have to feel the success of the system. It is so important that a team with so many new players wins ball games early.”

The Lions fell behind 10-0 in their first game, and Mitts altered the starting lineup for the second game with good results. The Lions owned an 11-8 lead after four minutes and shot 56 percent from the floor (14-of-25) while building a 34-18 halftime advantage.

“Our starters responded and our players off the bench responded,” Mitts said, referring to 44 points from reserves. “We also shared the basketball better. We had 17 assists.”

The Lions had only six assists in their first game — one apiece by six players. By contrast, six players had multiple assists on Saturday, including three each by first-year players Shonte Clay, Tee Singleton and Kristen Hanna.

The best news for the Lions on Saturday was center Dominique Mosley played after being helped off the court with a knee injury on Friday. The injury is not as bad as first feared, and Mosley hit 4-of-5 shots and had eight points and three rebounds in 13 minutes.

“She will be examined again on Monday,” Mitts said. “I was not expecting her to play, and she played real well. She wanted more minutes, but 13 minutes is a good day for her.”

Tonight’s game is an exhibition for Manhattan Christian, an NCCAA Division II school that is in the Midwest Christian College Conference.

The Lady Crusaders are 2-1 this season with victories over Union College 75-49 and Central Christian 59-52. They lost their season opener 53-45 to Bethany College.

Text Only
Missouri Southern Sports
Facebook
Poll

Parents could give up their babies without legal consequences up to 45 days after birth under a bill sent to Gov. Jay Nixon. The “safe harbor” extension from five days to 45 days could prevent child abuse, say supporters. Should Nixon sign the bill?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
NDN Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting