Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern women's basketball team couldn't overcome a strong second half from visiting Pittsburg State and the Lions fell 73-62 tonight on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Southern (11-15, 8-10 MIAA) was led by 21 points and 11 rebounds from
Desirea Buerge.
Dru Clark had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while
Julianna Wadsworth had 11 points.
Pitt State (22-5, 15-3 MIAA) was led by 19 points from Mikaela Burgess.
Both teams traded baskets early in the first quarter and a three from the Gorillas gave PSU a 10-8 lead with 6:09 left. The Lions, however, went on a 10-2 run and led 18-12 with 3:30 left after a three from
Dru Clark. A pair of freebies from Wadsworth put the Lions up 20-12, but PSU closed the quarter on a 9-3 run to cut the Lions' lead to just two (23-21) after one.
The teams got baskets one after another, but a jumper from Buerge in the paint as the shot clock expired gave the Lions a 30-28 lead with 4:30 left. Pitt went ahead on a three from Brenlee McPherson with 2:37 left, but a three from
Dru Clark the next trip down put the Lions back up 35-33. The Lions would go in the locker room up 37-35.
A back-and-forth effort ensued for the first part of the third until a bucket from Pitt put the Gorillas up six with 3:12 to go, a layup from Buerge with 1:29 got the Lions within two (48-46), but a jumper from Burgess as time expired put the Gorillas up four (53-49) after three.
The Gorillas started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to go up 63-51 with 5:44 left, but a three the next trip down from Wadsworth got the Lions within nine and a layup from Buerge with 3:28 made the score 63-56. That would be as close as the Lions would get, however, as Pitt pulled away late.
The Lions shot 39 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free throw line and the Lions had a 33-32 rebounding advantage.
Southern will finish up the regular season on Thursday night as the Lions travel to No. 8 Central Missouri. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 pm.
