Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball kept it close early on, but eventually fell to the No. 5 Fort Hays State Tigers by a final score of 72-57 inside the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.
 
Junior forward Chasidee Owens led the Lions (12-11, 4-10 MIAA) with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, including her first 3-pointer in the green and gold uniform. She also grabbed four rebounds and gathered two steals.

Sophomore guard Krista Clark added ten points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists in the loss.
 
FHSU (21-1, 12-1 MIAA) jumped out to an 8-0 start and held on to take a 13-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter. MSSU responded by trimming the deficit to two (15-13) in the first minute of the second and was able to battle back after a 7-2 run by the Tigers to get within nine heading into halftime.
 
Southern received 27 points from its bench to outscore Fort Hays State's bench by eight and cut the deficit to seven twice in the third, but was not enough as the Tigers went basket-for-basket with the Lions and put the game out of reach, eventually gaining its largest lead of 20 with 3:30 left in the fourth.
 
The Lions are back in action one week from tonight against cross-state rival Pittsburg State Gorillas for a 1:30 pm tilt inside the John Lance Arena to begin the home-and-home series.