Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team fought hard for 40 min Saturday afternoon but dropped a heartbreaker to sixth ranked Missouri Western 71-70 on Robert Corn Court inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The loss drops the Lions to 14-7, 8-7 in the MIAA while Missouri Western breaks a two game losing skid to improve to 19-2 overall and 13-2 in conference play. 

In a game that saw five ties and six lead changes each team largest lead was no more than nine, Missouri Western with 4:31 left in the first and the Lions largest lead was by five with 8:37 to play. The game was evenly matched throughout as both teams shot around 45 percent, 45.8 for Southern and 44.4 for the Griffons, from the floor; the Lions out rebounded Missouri Western 31-30; and both teams shot 20 or more free throws while only missing seven combined. Southern dished out 16 assists to Griffons' 10 and the Lions came up with five blocks to Western's four. MWSU had the advantage in steals 7-2 and in turnovers 9-17.

The game came down to the final possession for both teams as Missouri Western's Sarafina Hardy threw up a desperation three with 1.4 seconds left that found the bottom of the net and was fouled. She sank the free throw for the four point play and to give the Griffons a 71-70 lead. Missouri Southern advanced the ball into the front court with their final 30 second time out and after coming out of the huddle they couldn't get a good look at the bucket as they fell to the sixth ranked Griffons.

Junior Deb Holcomb led the Lions with 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting, 6-for-9 from three point range. Senior Sharese Jones continues her climb into the record books as she passed Patti (Killian) Coleman (1977-81) for sixth place in the all-time scoring list as she netted 21 points. For her career Jones now has 1,271 points with seven games left in the season, she needs just 83 points to pass fifth place Melissa Grider (1993-96). Jones led Southern in rebounding as she pulled down seven boards, that gives her 609 for her career just 25 away from breaking into the top five in that career category.

Missouri Western had four players score in double figures and were led by LaQuinta Jefferson with 17, Mili Koyamainavure and Mhykeah Baez each added 12, while Chelsea Dewey dropped 10.

The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday evening as they travel to Emporia to take on the 11th ranked Lady Hornets. Tip off from White Auditorium is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.