By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Home certainly brought out the best in Jasmine Webb.
Webb, who scored a total of 23 points in Northeastern State’s first three games, poured in 26 points as the RiverHawks decked Missouri Southern 67-50 Sunday afternoon in the Lions’ basketball season opener at the Jack Dobbins Field House.
Webb, 5-foot-11 junior from Owasso, sank 9-of-11 shots from the field and 7-of-11 free throws.
Webb, who scored only three points last year in a 75-62 loss at Missouri Southern, made two layups, two baskets after snaring offensive rebounds and a 3-pointer from the top of the key as NSU (3-1) opened a 17-7 lead in the first 61/2 minutes. She capped her performance with a three-point play that gave the RiverHawks their largest lead, 65-44, with 4:58 remaining.
“Jasmine broke out,” NSU head coach Randy Gibson said. “I think she was ready for the home opener. Her veteran status ... to come home and be settled and be ready to play, we needed that. She gave us a big lift, especially in the first half.
“She didn’t score down there (at the Disney Classic in Florida last week). She finished shots today. I think we were maybe getting some better movement and getting her open a little bit easier, getting her better looks. And she was playing with confidence today.”
“We had no answer for Webb,” Lions head coach Maryann Mitts said. “Any team’s identity is wrapped up in its post play. That’s where teams define their grit, their toughness, their disposition. Our post play completely got outplayed today.”
Senior guard Jolea Apon tallied 14 points to lead the Lions, who lost their season opener for the first time in five years. Apon was 5-of-14 from the floor, 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.
An Apon trey triggered an 11-1 spurt over a six-minute stretch that saw the Lions pull within 20-18 with 6:36 left in the half on Randi Henderson’s second 3-pointer from the top of the key.
“I was very proud of that effort because we battled back,” Mitts said. “I felt good going into halftime (trailing 37-29), felt we had some momentum. I thought we had our players right where we needed them, focusing in on the defense.
“Then we start the second half, and it’s immediately the same old story. They got some post touches, we missed some layups. You just can’t make those kinds of mistakes against a great basketball team on the road without suffering some consequences.”
The RiverHawks outscored the Lions 18-10 in the first 10 minutes of the second half for a 55-39 lead. Webb had two inside baskets early in the half, and Taylor Lewis and Alix Perkins hit 3-pointers.
A bright spot for the Lions was the play of freshmen Myriah Hicks (six points), Erin Rice (two points, two rebounds) and Kelby Fritz (a 3-pointer in her three minutes).
“Kelby Fritz would have gotten more minutes, but I thought Randi played a very good basketball game (eight points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, one blocked shot),” Mitts said. “Erin Rice did some good things. Myriah Hicks played strong, tough. Our freshmen really surprised me and gave us some valuable minutes.”
Webb’s nine rebounds led NSU to a 39-34 rebounding advantage. LaTice Jones matched Henderson’s seven boards to lead the Lions.
The Lions shot 36 percent (18-of-50), made half of their 14 free-throw attempts and committed 17 turnovers. NSU hit 40 percent from the floor, 16-of-23 from the line and had 14 turnovers.
The Lions play two games next weekend in the Emporia State Classic, facing Evangel at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Eastern New Mexico at 5:30 Saturday.
