Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Lions Women's Basketball team (1-2) fell behind early and never recovered as they dropped their home opener 73-61 to Harding (2-0) Tuesday evening inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The Lions got out to the early 2-0 lead off a jumper from senior Deb Holcomb and after a pair of free throws from Harding junior Kayla Kivinski sank a pair of her own to give Southern the 4-2 advantage with 7:18 remaining in the first. That was the last lead the Lions held as Harding went on a 16-2 run to take an 18-6 lead with 3:07 to play in the quarter. Back-to-back threes from sophomore Shannon Mitchell and junior Jasmine Green cut the lead down to six but the Lady Bisons had an answer with a layup from Caroline Hogue. Holcomb drained another three at the 1:28 mark to send the Lions into the quarter break down 20-15.

Harding used a 5-0 run to open the second quarter to go up ten, 25-15, before Holcomb was able to knock down a fifteen footer for Southern's first points of the second quarter at the 8:13 mark. A layup from Holcomb on the next Lions' possession sparked a 6-2 run to get the lead down to six as junior Julianna Wadsworth drove the lane for a bucket off a pass from Green. Harding answered right back with a 9-0 run to push the lead back to double digits, 38-23, with just under two minutes to play in the half. After a pair of free throws from sophomore Chelsey Henry, HU's Falan Miller found a cutting Sydnie Jones to make it 40-25 Lady Bisons headed into the locker room.

The second half went the direction of the first as the Lions were only able to whittle the lead down to 11 twice while Harding was able to expand their lead to 20 twice in the fourth quarter. A three pointer at the buzzer from red-shirt senior Amelia Bramer made the final score 73-61.

Harding shot 43.6 percent (24-for-55) from the field while holding the Lions to 35.1 percent (20-for-57). Holcomb led all scorers with 18 while Henry added 10 for Southern and the Lady Bisons were led by Riley Rose with 15 points and A'ndrea Haney with 11.

Southern will return to action on Saturday as they travel to Mankato, Minnesota to take on the Mavericks of Minnesota State-Mankato. Game time from the Taylor Center is scheduled for 4 p.m.