Pittsburg State, Kan. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team went back-and-forth with the Pittsburg State Gorillas early on, but could not close it out as the Lions fell to the Gorillas 78-61 inside John Lance Arena Saturday afternoon.  
 
The Lions (12-13, 4-11 MIAA) had 17 points from junior forward Chasidee Owens along with seven rebounds. Senior guard Chelsey Henry added 16 points and six rebounds.
 
Both teams traded leads throughout the first half, with Pittsburg State grabbing the largest of the half concluding in a 4-0 run out of the first media timeout (11-5) early on in the first quarter of play.
 
MSSU responded, matching PSU bucket-for-bucket toward a one-point advantage heading into halftime after Henry registered a free throw upon getting fouled on the layup attempt that counted on the release (30-29).
 
The Gorillas (19-5, 11-4 MIAA) came out of the break on a 10-0 run to take a nine-point lead (39-30) early in the third and never looked back extending their lead to as much as 20 in the later stages of the fourth quarter. Maya Williams and Athena Alvarado tied for the team-high in points with 18.
 
The Lions get another chance at the Gorillas in the second game of the home-and-home on Tuesday at 5:30 pm as part of Senior Day and the final home game of the 2018-19 season.