Final Score:   Mission University 79, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy 65
Location:  University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP Gym) St. Louis, Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The Lady Patriots struggled in the first quarter to get a fluid offense flowing.  The Patriots took the first lead, 10-9, on a pair of free throws by Laney Humble with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter against UHSP.  The teams traded leads one more time and then Heaven Shockley made back-to-back buckets for a 14-12 MU lead.  A 5-0 run by the Lady Eutectics gave them a 17-14 advantage.  Shockley hit one free throw with :39 to go, which ended up being the last point of the first quarter, 17-15 UHSP.  A Karlie Sampson layup with 8:48 remaining in the second period gave the Lady Patriots the lead, 21-19, for good.  Consecutive three-pointers by Josie Sullivan and Brooklyn Luna, pushed the margin to seven, 30-23, with 4:22 to go in the first half.  The teams traded baskets for the next two possessions each, then Luna nailed another trey for a ten point lead, 37-27.  After the Lady Eutectics scored, Mission went on a 7-0 run to finish the second    quarter, up 44-29.
In the third quarter, the Lady Pats scored the first four points before UHSP got on track.  The margin moved to 17 with 6:23  in the third quarter, 53-36, MU.  An 8-2 run, capped off by a Cassidy Hambelton layup at 2:55, gave the Lady Patriots a 61-38 lead.  UHSP made two three-pointers wrapped around another Hambelton layup to trail 63-44 at the 2:06 mark.  When the third quarter ended, MU possessed a 67-47 lead with ten minutes to go.  Coach Wallace tried out several different player combinations in the final period.  UHSP did manage to shave six points off the deficit, but lost 79-65 after a buzzer beating trey.  One key to the victory was a rebounding advantage, 46-38, by the shorter Lady Pats.
HIGHLIGHTS

• Cassidy Hambelton and Heaven Shockley shared scoring honors with 18 Points apiece.
• Brooklyn Luna, Josie Sullivan, and Hambelton each made 4 Assists to lead the team.
• Josie Sullivan led the defensive attack with 4 Steals.
• Three Lady Patriots managed double figures in rebounding, led by Shockley's 13 Rebounds.  Sullivan added 11 and Karlie Sampson snared 10 off the bench.
• Other players in double figures: Sullivan 16, Luna 13, and Laney Humble 10 Points.

UP NEXT 
The Lady Patriots return home next Thursday and Saturday for their final AMC games before the post-season tournament.   On Thursday, February 20, the Harris-Stowe State University Lady Hornets, come to Springfield for a 5:30 start time.