[box vs. MSSU]
JOPLIN, MO. … A 14-2 run to end the first half pushed Missouri Southern (14-7/6-4) to a 72-62 win over Southwest Baptist University (10-11/2-8). SBU was down by two with 3:58 to go when MSSU started the run.
Leading the way for SBU was Livia Brito with 20 points while Casey Beavers had 13 and Cortney Shewmaker 12. Beavers had seven rebounds to lead SBU. Meghan Welch led all scorers with 22 points to lead MSSU.
SBU took a quick 4-0 lead in the first half on buckets by Livia Brito and then by Casey Beavers. MSSU then tied the game at four at the 15:58 mark after both teams struggled from the floor. SBU’s Kristina Salscheider put the Lady Bearcats back in front, 6-4, just 30 seconds later but the Lady Lions went on a 8-2 run over three minutes for a 12-8 lead. Cortnety Shewmaker nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to one, 12-11, but that is as close as SBU would come to the Lady Lions in the second half. MSSU responded with a 11-4 run for an eight-point lead, 23-15, with just 8:39 left in the half.
The Lady Bearcats did not go away after the MSSU run as SBU responded with a 8-2 run to come within two, 25-23, over a five minute period. MSSU came right back at SBU with their own 14-2 run to finish off the half and take a 14-point led at the half.
MSSU extended their lead to 16 in the first three minutes of the second half on a 6-0 run. SBU fired back with a 10-3 run to come within nine points, 46-37, at the 14:36 mark. MSSU kept their distance and put their lead back to 13 at the 11:23 mark, 54-41. In the next five minutes SBU went on a 12-4 run to cut the lead to five, 58-53. MSSU pushed their lead back to nine, again, before SBU brought it down to five, twice, with the last five-point lead, 66-61, at the 2:04 mark. SBU only scored one point in the final two minutes as MSSU finished with a 6-1 run.
SBU did out shoot MSSU, 50% to 42%, but turned the ball over 21 times. MSSU out rebounded SBU, 38-21.
The Lady Bearcats will travel to St. Joseph, Missouri, on Saturday, February 4, when they take on Missouri Western at 5:30 p.m.
Notes: This is only the 2nd time Livia Brito has scored 20 or more points in a one game. She has now scored 10 or more points in 15 games this season …Casey Beavers has recorded three or more steals in eight games…MSSU now leads the series, 31-15…SBU and MSSU split the series in MIAA play for the fifth time since the 1988-89 season…Only second time this season that SBU has shot over 50% and lost in a game…This is the fifth time this season that Casey Beavers has had three or more blocks in a game.
