Joplin, Mo. – Deb Holcomb had a career-high 23 points and added six rebounds as the Missouri Southern women's basketball team defeated visiting Northeastern State 62-55 today on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Southern (7-1, 1-1 MIAA) was led by Holcomb's 9-17 performance, including 3-8 from the field and 2-2 from the free- throw line. Sharese Jones had eight points, while Desirea Buerge and Jenson Maydew scored seven points each. Kenya Wilson-Brown added a career-high eight assists on the afternoon.
 
NSU (3-4, 0-2 MIAA) had two score in double-figures, led by 14 points from MaryJane Buschmann. Destiny Strange scored ten.
 
The Lions opened up the first quarter on fire and led 13-2 after a layup from Buerge with 4:13 left in the opening frame.
 
The RiverHawks, however, followed that up with an 8-0 run of their own to end the quarter as the Lions led 13-10 after one.
 
NSU kept the pressure on and outscored MSSU 16-9 in the second quarter. The RiverHawks tied the game at 17 with 7:13 left in the second quarter and took a 19-17 lead with 4:47 left in the quarter after a bucket from Strange.
 
A three pointer from Buschman with 31 seconds left in the half gave the RiverHawks their largest lead of the half at six (26-20), but a layup from Holcomb with eight seconds to go made the halftime score 26-22.
 
A bucket from Holcomb in the paint with 6:15 to go in the 3^rd tied the game at 28, and an offensive rebound put back from Bri Shavers with 5:20 to go in the quarter gave the Lions a lead at 30-28.
 
The Lions' run reached 11-0 after a three from Holcomb gave Southern a 33-28 lead, forcing a RiverHawks' timeout. A three pointer for Dru Clark as time expired in the quarter gave Southern a 44-34 lead after three.
 
The RiverHawks opened up the fourth quarter with three-straight three pointers and cut the Lions' lead to one (44-43) with 7:39 left in the quarter. A reverse layup from Jones after the timeout stopped the run and pushed the score to 46-43.
 
After a three from the RiverHawks got the team to within seven (55-48) a three on the next trip down from Jones pushed the Lions' lead back to ten at 58-58 with 1:41 left in the game. A running layup from Holcomb made the score 60-51 with 48 seconds to go and forced an NSU timeout.
 
Southern held a 32-21 advantage on the boards and a 26-24 lead in the paint. The Lions shot 49 percent from the field and 53 percent from long-range, while making 70 percent of their free throws.
 
The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday night as Southern plays host to Northwest Missouri. Tip off is slated for 5:30 pm.