ATCHISON, Kan. — Mission University battled through two competitive games during its weekend trip to Kansas, including a near-upset of 15th-ranked Benedictine College on the Ravens' home court.
The Lady Patriots fell 71-68 to John Brown University on Friday before carrying a fourth-quarter lead against No. 15 Benedictine in Saturday's 69-62 loss.
Although Mission finished the trip 0-2, the two games were decided by a combined 10 points. The Lady Patriots moved to 1-4 overall.
Game One – John Brown 71, Mission 68
Mission overcame an early deficit to take a 32-30 advantage into halftime against John Brown.
The Lady Patriots trailed 15-12 after the opening quarter before outscoring John Brown 20-15 in the second. John Brown responded with a 21-point third quarter to regain a 51-47 advantage.
Mission won the fourth quarter 21-20, but John Brown held on for the three-point victory.
Ireland Jones led the Lady Patriots with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Miya Nieto added 11 points, while Gentry Davault finished with 10 points and nine rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting.
Naomi Daugherty contributed eight points and six rebounds off the bench. Mission's reserves outscored John Brown's bench 24-3, while the Lady Patriots held advantages in points in the paint, 38-28, and total rebounds, 39-38.
Mission shot 40.6 percent from the field and made 11 of its 13 free-throw attempts. John Brown's perimeter shooting proved important, as the Golden Eagles connected on 10 three-pointers compared with five for the Lady Patriots.
Game Two – No. 15 Benedictine 69, Mission 62
Mission put itself in position to defeat the nation's 15th-ranked team, carrying a 50-48 lead into the fourth quarter before Benedictine rallied on its home floor.
The teams were tied at 22 after the opening quarter. Benedictine took control in the second, outscoring Mission 16-11 to build a 38-33 halftime advantage.
The Lady Patriots answered with their strongest quarter of the weekend. Mission held No. 15 Benedictine to 10 points in the third while scoring 17 to erase the halftime deficit and take a two-point lead into the final period.
Benedictine recovered with a 21-12 advantage in the fourth quarter to escape with the seven-point victory.
AJ Person led Mission with 15 points, connecting on five three-pointers. Tara Masten recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists without committing a turnover.
Capri Garrett and Davault scored 10 points apiece. Garrett added five rebounds and three blocks, while Davault collected five rebounds and two steals. Jones finished with seven points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Mission shot 43.3 percent from the field while holding the 15th-ranked Ravens to 39.3 percent. The Lady Patriots also outrebounded Benedictine 38-36, committed only nine turnovers and recorded 18 assists on 26 made field goals.
Mission controlled the interior with a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint. Benedictine countered by making 11 three-pointers and finishing with a 10-3 advantage in made free throws.
Weekend Takeaways
Mission showed its ability to compete away from home throughout the two-game trip. The Lady Patriots led at halftime against John Brown and entered the fourth quarter ahead of No. 15 Benedictine.
The performance against the nationally ranked Ravens was particularly encouraging. Mission shot a higher percentage from the field, won the rebounding battle, committed fewer turnovers and controlled the paint before Benedictine turned the game around in the fourth quarter.
