Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern women's basketball program never trailed in an end-to-end win over the visiting Newman Jets 59-51 today inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
The Lions (4-2, 2-0 MIAA) were led by true freshman Lacy Stokes with 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Junior forward Amaya Johns added 10 points shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from free throws. Leading the bench scoring was sophomore guard Cameron Call with 10 points, sophomore center Madi Stokes finished with seven points and six rebounds in only 13 minutes of action from the bench as well.
Newman (2-6, 0-2 MIAA) was led by Amoni White with 15 points from the bench and had four assists while Tiffany Dortland had 10 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
The first quarter began with a bang as Lacy Stokes rushed out to a made layup on the Lions first possession before the Jets responded for the only tie of the game. The Lions went on a 9-0 run thanks to graduate guard Brooke Stauffer hitting a three to jumpstart the run and capping it off with a layup with 7:07 remaining in the first quarter with both makes being assisted by Lacy Stokes as well, making it 11-2 in favor of the Lions.
In the second quarter Missouri Southern went on a 10-3 run to begin the quarter that was capped off by a junior guard/forward Layne Skiles three from a Lacy Stokes assist with 5:00 left in the quarter to make it 31-16. The Jets would respond with a 11-2 run to close out the last three minutes of the first half and go into overtime with the Lions leading 37-29.
Baskets were at a premium for both teams in the third quarter with each team scoring 10 or less, Newman got to within two of the Lions 39-37 lead with 1:49 left before Southern responded with a 5-2 run to close out the quarter ahead 44-39.
From the beginning of the fourth quarter to 6:08 left the Lions went on a 11-4 run making some breathing room as Madi Stokes converted an and-one to make it 55-43. The Jets would get it to within six 57-51 before the Lions closed the door and Skiles converted her 32nd and 33rd consecutive made free throws for the Lions to down the Jets 59-51.
As a team Missouri Southern had more made three's (6-5), free throws (9-6), assists (10-8), steals (10-3), forced 20 turnovers, had more points off turnovers (15-11) and lead the game for 39:26 with the largest lead coming at 2:58 left in the second quarter up 35-18 (17 points).
Up next for the Lions will be Rogers State in Claremore, Oklahoma as the Lions make the first MIAA road trip of the season on December 11th. Tip-off from the Claremore Expo Center is set for 1:30 PM.
