Final Score: Mission University 79, Missouri Baptist University 64
Location: Missouri Baptist University (Carl and Deloris Petty SRC) St. Louis, Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The Lady Patriots used a strong third quarter to take command of their match against the Missouri Baptist University Lady Spartans, to prevail 79-64. In the first quarter, the Lady Patriots got on the board with a
Brooklyn Luna three-pointer. Luna would make three more treys during the contest, each coming at a key time.
Ireland Jones got into the act with the first of her four three-pointers at the 7:03 mark to extend the MU lead to 10-4. Over the next two minutes and ten seconds the Lady Spartans scored on two baskets to draw within 10-8. At 4:12 Missouri Baptist tied the contest at 10-10, as the Lady Pats were cold from the field. The Lady Spartans scored on their following possession to take their first lead, 12-10, at 3:36. After a Lady Patriot timeout, Mission finally ended a four and a half minute drought when
Laney Humble made a mid-range jumper to tie the game, 12-12. Each team would score a bucket apiece, then Humble made a long-range bomb to put the Lady Pats back in front, 17-14 with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter. The quarter ended with MU in front, 20-17. In the second quarter, the Lady Patriots increased the margin to six, 25-19, on a
Miya Nieto layup at 7:50 left in the half.
Josie Sullivan and
Cassidy Hambelton came alive in the second period, but the Lady Spartans continued to rally from four to six points down throughout the quarter until they made a layup to tie the game, 31-31, with :15 remaining in the half. A shooting foul on Hambelton was committed by MO Baptist as time ran out and the 5'4" junior point guard calmly canned both to give the Lady Patriots a 33-31 lead at intermission.
The second half opened just like the first with a Luna three-pointer, followed by a Jones three-pointer, and then another Luna jumper from beyond the arc, MU up 42-31. After a Missouri Baptist timeout, the Lady Spartans did stop the bleeding momentarily with a layup to draw within, 42-33. The Lady Patriots then went on a 15-4 run, before the Lady Spartans made it 57-40, MU with two minutes remaining in the third period. Another 7-0 run to end the quarter, pretty much salted the game away, as MU led 64-40 with ten minutes to go. Mission then used all of its bench to end the contest, resting the starters for an important AMC match on Saturday afternoon at Cottey.
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
The Lady Patriots travel to Nevada, Missouri, on Saturday, February 1, to play Cottey College. Game time for the Women's contest is 1:00 pm.
