By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Guard India Wood scored just seven points in Missouri Southern’s women’s basketball opener Saturday night.
But on Sunday afternoon, Wood scored the Lions’ first seven points and finished with 17 as Southern rolled past Paul Quinn 73-53 in the Chatters/Comfort Inn Classic at Pittsburg State’s John Lance Arena.
Wood, 5-foot-7 senior, hit a jumper, two free throws and a 3-pointer to produce a 7-2 lead in the first four minutes.
“I thought about it real hard, took it all in, and told myself I wasn’t going to come out and play like I did (Saturday),” Wood said. “My teammates are always there for me.”
“That’s what you expect out of an MIAA performer,” Lions head coach Maryann Mitts said. “That’s what good players do. They step out and take the pressure off the rest of the team by taking the early shot. The early shot for a mature player — make or miss — it doesn't dictate your game. An immature player misses her first shot and they lose confidence.
“As easy as it might seem for people to come out and take those early shots, it’s really not. I was so proud that India chose (Sunday) for it to be her role.”
Wood made three 3-pointers while hitting 5 of 10 from the floor and all four free throws for her 17 points to lead five Lions in double figures.
Freshman forward Michelle Hedgecock tallied 16 points on 8 of 14 accuracy from the floor. Senior Danielle DeVader popped in four of the Lions’ 10 treys and had 13 points. She also came up one rebound shy of a second consecutive double-double.
Nichole Helfrich and Jolea Apon scored 10 points apiece. Helfrich, 6-0 senior, also snared a career-high 14 rebounds for her first double-double with the Lions.
Missouri Southern led 30-12 with seven minues left in the first half, but Paul Quinn (1-4) sliced the deficit to 32-24 at halftime and 32-26 one minute into the second half. After two scoreless minutes, the Lions outscored Paul Quinn 13-3 over a five-minute span for a 45-29 advantage.
Helfrich had five points in the spurt that began with a 3-pointer from freshman Bailey Beale.
“That's when we subbed Michelle in with Nichole at the same time,” Mitts said, “and we put Bailey at the point and shifted Danielle and India to the wings. It’s a double-edged sword. You’re excited that you have two freshmen on the floor that’s giving you that spark, but by the same token, you have to rely on your upperclassmen to do that so your freshmen don’t feel overwhelmed on a night in and night out basis. We'll take that now, but we need to make sure that doesn't become such a habit.”
The Lions, who shot 39 percent, had assists on 22 of their 28 field goals. Myosha Barnes and Lindsey Davis each had four assists.
“Overall we played all right,” DeVader said. “We know that we have a long ways to go, but that’s why the season is long. That’s why we don’t start in March. That’s why we start in October and November so we have time to grow and progress as a team.”
Guards Ashley Williams and Tarneshia Burns had 11 points each to lead Paul Quinn, which hit 38 percent and had 24 turnovers, three more than the Lions.
The Lions play their first home game at 1 p.m. Saturday against Northeastern State (Okla.).
Pittsburg State, 91-46
Nicole McCombs, 6-1 junior transfer from Drexel University, made 9 of 12 field goals and scored 24 points as the Gorillas rolled past Southwestern.
Bailey Waugh added 12 points and Caitlin Demarest and Brianna Buchanan both had 11 for the Gorillas, who led 42-27 at halftime and shot 58 percent from the floor while outscoring the Moundbuilders 49-19 in the second half.
Center Amy Laible had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Southwestern (3-2), ranked No. 22 in the NAIA Division II poll.
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