SBU DROPS THIRD CLOSE GAME IN LAST TWO WEEKS

February 14, 2004

Box

Gwyn Smith had her 12th double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. She leads the MIAA in rebounding.

BOLIVAR, MO... For the third game in two weeks, the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (13-10/5-9) lost another close game only this time to Missouri Southern (16-7/7-7), 68-66. With 00:004 left, MSSU's Nicole Greninger hit one of two free throws for the two-point win.

Gwyn Smith recorded her 12th double-double of the year with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Amber Wheeler had 14 points while Jenny Hancock added 13. Aubrie Hallman put up 18 points for Missouri Southern.

MSSU held the lead throughout the entire first half. After the game was tied at six, They pushed the lead to five, 14-9, with 11:51 to go in the half. By 9:43, they had an eight point lead, 20-12. At the 6:54 mark, the Lady Lions extended their lead to 10, 28-18. In that final 6:30, SBU put together a 17-8 run to cut the lead to one, 36-35, at halftime.

The Lady Lions opened up the second half on a 17-5 run for a 12-point lead, 52-40, and only 13:48 to go in the game. SBU slowly scratched the lead down. By the 5:45 mark, SBU was within four on a Hancock layup, 56-52. MSSU kept the lead at six until the 3:41 mark when Wheeler nailed a three-pointer to put SBU within three, 62-59. SBU scored the next five points over a minute and a half on two free throws by Wheeler, a layup by Hanock and then a free throw by Hancock to give SBU a two-point lead, 64-62, with 2:10 left in the game.

MSSU's Carol Koenig gave the Lady Lions the lead on a free throw with 1:20 to go after Vonny Wilson tied the game at 64 at the 1:45 mark. SBU's Smith answered back with 00:48 left to play when she fought for a layup to the Lady Bearcats up by one, 66-65. With 00:23 left to play, MSSU's Wyketha Harrell made one of two free throws to give them the lead for good.

SBU only shot 38% from the floor and 33% from three-point range while MSSU put in 52% of their shots and made 42% from beyond the arc. SBU outrebounded MSSU, 37-24 and had less turnovers (12-16).

The Lady Bearcats will take on Missouri-Rolla at 5:30 p.m. in Rolla on Wednesday, February 18th.