By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Missouri Southern has spent big portions of its women’s basketball practices this week working on little things.
Little things like passing, catching, shooting layups and other fundamentals that can be the difference between victory and defeat.
“It’s the importance of being fundamentally sound and disciplined,” Lions head coach Maryann Mitts said. “There is no doubt that Sunday’s game revealed it wasn’t the big things that hurt us. The fundamental things caught up with us.
“Something as simple as finishing a layup. Most of the time when you’re shooting a layup, it’s going to be contested, and you have to go up strong, not fade away off one foot, which is difficult to finish.
“Things like blocking out ... making sure we initiate the contact on a blockout. Catching and passing ... setting and waiting on screens, which is all timing. We ran by each other instead of helping each other get open. It’s simple, fundamental things that under pressure we need to improve on.”
The Lions, looking to bounce back from Sunday’s 67-50 season-opening loss at Northeastern State (Okla.), are in Emporia, Kan., this weekend for the Emporia State Lady Hornet Tipoff Classic.
The Lions meet Evangel University (4-0) tonight at 5:30 and Eastern New Mexico at 5:30 Saturday night. The Zias are 0-1 entering tonight’s game against No. 7 Emporia State.
The Crusaders, coached by Leon Neal, topped John Brown 65-57 on Tuesday night. Evangel’s balanced scoring attack has four players averaging in double figures — 5-foot-10 sophomore Kara Blankenship at 14.8, 5-10 junior Kelsie Hargus at 13.8, 5-6 junior Ashlee Luko at 13.3 and 5-10 junior Caitlin Russell at 12.8.
“Evangel plays hard, they play physical,” Mitts said. “This is the second game in a row we’ll play a team that won’t make very many mistakes. They made 10-of-10 free throws to beat John Brown.”
Senior guard Jolea Apon hit four 3-point goals and scored 14 points to lead the Lions against NSU. Forward LaTice Jones grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, and point guard Randi Henderson had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes.
The Lions still aren’t at full strength. Tercya Ferreira, 5-9 junior transfer from Labette Community College, did not play in the opener and continues to be sidelined with a foot infection. Brittany Vavao-Huggins, who played her final volleyball match last Saturday, will start practicing with the basketball team on Monday, Mitts said.
This weekend provides the Lions’ newcomers an introduction to White Auditorium — one of the best venues in the MIAA.
“To play in White Auditorium and not have to play Emporia State, that will be a nice relief,” Mitts said with a laugh. “With this inexperienced of a team, it’s going to be beneficial to go on the road to an MIAA opponent’s floor and get acclimated to the atmosphere. I’m sure they will have a great crowd, and to go on the road and win at an MIAA school could prove to be beneficial come the end of the year.”
