Joplin, Mo. - The 22nd ranked Missouri Southern Lions Women's Basketball team (8-2, 2-1 MIAA) dropped their MIAA home opener 75-53 to the number one ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets (10-0, 3-0 MIAA) Saturday afternoon on Robert Corn Court inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The first half saw one tie and three lead changes before a layup from Kathryn Flott would give the Lady Hornets the lead for good at the 7:06 mark. ESU pushed their lead up to seven on a jumper from Kelsey Barnwell before a free throw from Jensen Maydew would cut the lead to six to end the first half scoring at 28-22.

Emporia State came out in the second half and raced to a 17 point lead, 46-29, on a 17-7 run in the first seven minutes of play. The Lions would claw back as a three point play from Nic Hartzog would pull Southern within 12 at 50-38 qirh 8:33 to play.

The Lady Hornets would close the game on a 9-6 run for the 22 point win, all six of the Lions final points came Tami Morice as she connected on an old fashioned three point play and less than one minute later on a shot from the corner in front of Southern's bench.

Southern was led by Morice who finished with 12 points, while Hartzog finished with 10. Leading the way on the boards for the Lions was Sharese Jones with six and Shawnee Phillips pulled down four.

Emporia State shot 51 percent (26-51) from the field for the game, whie the Lions shot 38 percent (17-45). ESU also out rebounded Southern 33-24.

The Lions will take the holidays off before opening 2015 on the road at Fort Hays State on Jan. 3. Tip is scheduled for 2pm.