Southern hangs on for 69-66 win at Southwest Baptist

Bolivar, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team survived a late comeback by Southwest Baptist tonight in Bolivar, but hung on to win 69-66 at the Meyer Sports Center.

Southern (6-3, 4-1 MIAA) won for the first time in Bolivar since the 2008 season. The Lions had two score in double-figures, led by 19 points from Jasmine Lovejoy. She went 7-11 from the field in the win. Erin Rice scored 14, while Kelby Fritz and LaTice Jones scored eight each.

SBU (4-5, 1-4 MIAA) had four score in double-figures, led by 16 points from Kourtni Williams, while Ashleigh Gallio had 15 on 3-7 shooting from long-range.

A pair of free-throws from Lovejoy with 11 minutes left in the fist half gave the Lions an 11-10 lead and Southern would not trail from that point on, taking a 29-26 lead into the locker room at the half. The Lions' largest lead of the half came after one of Emilie Schirmer's two three's in the half made the score 28-20 with 4:05 to go in the half.

The Lions' defense came out strong in the second stanza holding the Bearcats without a field goal until the 16:40 mark. During that time, Southern went on an 8-4 run to open a 37-30 lead.

The lead for Southern was eight at 62-54 with four minutes to go, but a 6-2 run by the Bearcats cut the Lions' lead to just four (64-60) with 2:27 to go. A layup from Lovejoy stopped the SBU run and gave the Lions a 66-60 lead the next trip down the floor.

A pair of free-throws from the Bearcats' Jaquavia Couch cut the lead to just two (68-62) with 28 seconds left and after a Lions miss at the other end, SBU set up a play with 21 seconds left to play. Southern held strong on defense and the Lions' Larita Gipson was fouled. She made one of two freebies and a last-second three from SBU was no-good, giving Southern the win.

The Lions led from the 11 minute mark of the first half on throughout the game, and Southern's bench was the star of the night, out scoring the Bearcats, 22-9. The Lions held a 30-24 advantage in the paint and forced 13 turnovers, scoring 21 points off of the miscues.

The Lions will be off for the Christmas break, but will be back in action on Sunday, January 2 when Southern plays host to Pittsburg State in the first of two Sonic Trophy Series games. Tipoff from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center will be 2 pm.