Final Score:   Mission University 73, Cottey College 69
Location:  Cottey College (Hinkhouse Center) Nevada, Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The Lady Patriots led most of the game, but needed some clutch play in the final minute to hang on for a 73-69 AMC victory on the road.  In the first quarter the Lady Comets held a small lead for almost the entire ten minutes.  Heaven Shockley tied the game, 18-18, with a free throw at 1:14, then made a layup at :45 to go in the opening quarter to give MU the lead, 20-18, for the first time.  Josie Sullivan made a mid-range jumper with :09 to give the Lady Patriots a 22-18 advantage and that is how the quarter ended.  Brooklyn Luna caught fire early in the second period, nailing two treys, followed by a Shockley layup and then a Cassidy Hambelton three-pointer to lead 33-21 with 5:43 to go in the half.  At 5:15, Luna made a layup to increase the advantage to 35-21 causing a Cottey timeout.  The lead jumped to 16, 37-21, at 4:00 when Karlie Sampson made a layup.  Cottey finally countered with 5 points over the next two minutes, but a conventional three-point play at 1:52 by Sullivan, followed by a jumper by Sullivan at 1:11 pushed the margin back to 16, 42-26.  A pair of Comet free throws with :42 to go in the second quarter was the last of the scoring in the half, as Mission had a nice 42-28 lead at intermission.
In the third quarter, Sullivan went on a 5-0 run, then Shockley added a free throw for the Lady Patriots' largest lead of the game, 48-30 with 6:07 to go in the third period.  The Lady Comets rallied a bit to close out the quarter, pulling to within 56-45 when the horn sounded ending the third.  A 5-0 run by Cottey in the first minute of the fourth quarter made it 56-50, and Mission was forced to call a timeout.  A Lady Comet 9-3 run led to a 59-59 tie at 6:05 remaining and another Mission timeout.  Hambelton made a pair of free throws, followed by Sullivan's pair of charity tosses at 4:00, giving the Lady Patriots a 63-59 lead.  Hambelton canned two more free throws and then a Comet free throw, followed by a three-pointer, and a layup, brought the game to another tie with 1:23 remaining, 68-68. Each team made a free throw over the next 50 seconds making it 69-69.  The Lady Pats took a timeout to set up a play, which resulted in Shockley being fouled down low.  She converted both free throws to give the Lady Patriots a 71-69 lead with :23 to go.  Cottey did the same with a timeout, but their shot was off the mark, and was hit out of bounds by Cottey.  As soon as Luna received the inbounds pass she was fouled and calmly nailed both free throws for the final margin.  Cottey missed a three-pointer near the buzzer as the game ended.
HIGHLIGHTS

• Josie Sullivan led the Lady Patriots with 23 Points and completed a double-double by adding 10 Rebounds.
• Cassidy Hambelton made 5 Assists to lead the team.
• Other players in double figures: Brooklyn Luna 16 and Hambelton 11 Points.
• Heaven Shockley nearly had a double-double, pulling down 9 Rebounds, and adding 12 Points.

UP NEXT 
The Lady Patriots come home for two games, beginning Thursday, February 6, when they play host to Central Baptist College as part of an AMC doubleheader.  Game time is set for 5:30 pm.