Joplin, Mo. – A layup from visiting Lindenwood University with 2.3 seconds to go proved to be the game-winner as the Missouri Southern women's basketball team fell 74-72 in MIAA action tonight on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Southern (9-7, 4-3 MIAA) was led in scoring by Desirea Buerge with a nearly-perfect night of 20 points and nine rebounds on 5-7 shooting, 4-4 from long-range and 6-6 from the free throw line. Deb Holcomb scored 12 points, while Jasmine Green had 11 points off of the bench.
 
Lindenwood (6-8, 2-5 MIAA) had three score in double-figures led by 14 points from Gabby Walker.
 
Both teams traded points early in the first quarter before a three from Buerge and a jumper from Green gave Southern a 10-5 lead with 6:16 left in the quarter. Back-to-back layups from Lindenwood gave the Lady Lions a 13-10 lead with 3:30 to go.
 
A layup from Kayla Kivinski with 2:18 left tied the game at 13, but Lindenwood closed the quarter on a 5-2 run to lead 18-15 after one.
 
Lindenwood led 22-16, but Southern went on a 12-4 run, capped off by a layup from Holcomb to take a 28-26 lead with 2:19 to go in the second quarter. The game was tied at 30, but a three from Buerge gave Southern a 33-30 lead with 1:16 to go and the Lions took a 35-30 lead into the locker room at the break.
 
Both teams traded baskets and leads in the third quarter with neither team leading by more than two points, but Southern led 54-53 after three quarters.
 
Back-to-back threes from Green, and a bucket from Holcomb gave Southern a 62-58 lead with 8:04 left to play in the fourth. However, Lindenwood went on a 13-4 run over the next six minutes and led 71-66 with just under two minutes to go.
 
Southern fought back and tied the score at 72 on a pair of freebies from Green with 21 seconds left, but a bucket from Lindenwood with 2.3 seconds on the clock that proved to be the game-winner.
 
Southern shot 38 percent from the field and 39 percent from the three-point line, while making 74 percent of its free throws. Lindenwood held a 46-26 advantage in the paint and the Lindenwood bench out-scored Southern 45-31.
 
Southern will be back in action on Saturday as the Lions welcome in Lincoln University. Tip off is slated for 1 pm.