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Missouri Southern threw a major scare at No. 15 Washburn.
But Stevi Schultz hit two 3-point goals in the closing minute and a half — the last one with 13 seconds left as the shot clock sounded — and the Lady Blues escaped with a 75-69 victory over the Lions on Wednesday night at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
The Lions (7-17, 3-15 MIAA) trailed 43-31 at halftime after the Lady Blues (22-4, 15-2) went on a 10-0 run in the last 1:33 of the half.
Missouri Southern took the ball to the basket and scored the first nine points of the second half on layups by Dysyan Malone, Kelby Fritz, Erin Rice and Fritz again. Fritz added a free throw after her first basket.
For most of the final 16 minutes of the game, Washburn opened leads of 7-10 points, only to see the Lions whittle the deficit. Missouri Southern, down 67-63 with five minutes left, finally caught the Lady Blues when Nyzera Fleming converted 3-of-4 free throws on two trips to the line, and Rice nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 69-69 with 3:18 to play.
The Lions had two chances to take the lead, but Fritz's jumper in the lane and Haley Weathers' 3-pointer bounced off the rim.
Washburn, which made two field goals in the previous six minutes, took the lead on Schultz's trey from the left of the top of the key with 1:39 to play.
It was still 72-69 as the Lions missed on two possessions in between a missed Washburn free throw. The Lady Blues, gaining possession with 43 seconds left, spent the first 15 seconds of the shot clock in the back court, and the Lions provided pressure during the rest of the clock. But just as it appeared the shot clock would expire, Schultz got a shot off and scored to clinch the victory.
“That's unfortunate,” Rice said. “We worked so hard for that 30 seconds, and they drained it. Props to them for getting their guard open just enough to get that shot off. We needed them to pass it one more time.
“It hurts for sure We missed several shots at the end that we're very capable of making. We gave up a couple of shots that we shouldn't have given up on the other end of the court. We just couldn't pull it out at the end.”
“We go in (at halftime) down 12, and I'm so proud how we came back,” Lions coach Maryann Mitts said. “Washburn did not feel comfortable the entire 40 minutes. We had our chances to win the ball game. I thought our execution was good. But I go back to some layups that we missed. I'm not sure this would have been a loss had we converted on our layups.
“But as far as effort was concerned and competitiveness, I thought it was an exceptional performance by our team. Washburn is a very good basketball team, and for us to score 69 points against that basketball team should give our players a lot of confidence. When everybody has a seat at the table, when everybody pulls up a chair to the table and does what they can do like they did tonight, we can put a lot of points on the board.”
Rice finished with a team-high 24 points, hitting 10-of-22 field goals and 4-of-6 from long range, and Fritz contributed 19 points, 14 in the second half.
Senior guard Ebonie Williams scored 20 points to lead Washburn for the 10th consecutive game. Schultz wound up with 17 after her late heroics, and Dana Elliott, averaging 3.4, had 15.
The Lions scored on their first three possessions — two Rice treys and a rebound basket by Michelle Hedgecock — and led 8-0 after two minutes, and 3s by Fritz and Samantha Gray pushed the lead to 14-2 after five minutes.
Washburn answered with a 15-2 run during the next six minutes to take its first lead, and Elliott surpassed her former career high with 12 points in the last eight minutes of the half as the Lady Blues turned a 21-17 deficit into a 43-31 halftime lead.
“It was our best team effort,” Mitts said. “All nine players who stepped on the floor contributed in big ways. We got off to a great start again. We let them go on that 10-0 run to end the half. That's where we're falling short, when we're allowing people to go on such massive runs at different times.”
The Lions play their final home game Saturday afternoon against Fort Hays State.
Sports
February 15, 2012
Southern women can't upset Lady Blues
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Miners, Carl Junction split American Legion doubleheader
Joplin's Nate Brummer dives back into first base before Carl Junction's Jaron Hulette can apply the tag during their American Legion baseball game at Joe Becker Stadium.
Bryce Ash’s two-run single capped a four-run fourth inning in Joplin’s 8-6 victory against Carl Junction in the second game of an American Legion doubleheader Thursday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
Continued ... - 11th annual Grin Iron Classic set in Springfield
- Outlaws pitching fans 18 in season-opening win over Rossville
- Desiree Felker signs to play volleyball at OCC
- Phil McClintock hired as boys basketball coach at Salem
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
