Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women's basketball program picked up its tenth-straight win while a pair of records fell tonight besting #21 Missouri Western 71-57 inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
The Lions (17-5, 14-3 MIAA) were led by Lacy Stokes with 24 points while also having six assists and six steals. For Lacy this was her eighth game scoring 20 or more points this season and also the fourth game this season with six steals. She set a new school record for steals by a freshman that currently stands at 80 for the eighth most in a single-season in school history. 
 
Madi Stokes tied for the team lead with seven rebounds while providing two assists and two blocks to set a new career record at Southern with 120 blocks currently, passing Zoe Campbell's (2017-20) total of 119 blocks.
 
Layne Skiles finished with a season-high 17 points connecting on two threes and going 7-of-7 from free throws, while also grabbing seven rebounds and had two blocks. Brooke Stauffer has 12 points going 5-of-9 from the field and connected on two three's as well while providing three assists and two steals.
  
The Griffons (18-4, 12-4 MIAA) were led by Corbyn Cunningham with 16 points and 13 rebounds, Brionna Budgetts added 14 points and four rebounds to round out those that scored in double figures. Connie Clark grabbed nine rebounds and had a team-high four assists for the Griffons as well.
 
On the Lions' first possession of the game Brooke Stauffer connected on a three that was assisted by Lacy Stokes before Madi Stokes made it 5-2 in favor of the Lions with 8:40 left in the quarter. The early Lion lead was quickly turned back as the Griffons went on a 6-0 run taking a 8-5 lead with 7:24 left in the quarter.
 
Southern answered the bell going on a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead 11-3 with 6:00 left in the first quarter. The two teams exchanged scores until the Griffons went on a 6-3 run to close the quarter out ahead 23-21.
 
Another 6-3 run by Missouri Western made it 29-24 with 7:56 left in the first half before the Lions roared into action with a 6-0 run retaking the lead 30-29 with 3:59 remaining following a Skiles three assisted by Lacy Stokes. Both teams would trade the lead in the final three minutes before a Stauffer three with 30 seconds left in the half put the Lions ahead 35-33 heading into halftime.
 
Both teams went on a 4-0 run to begin the third quarter to exchange the lead before a pair of Cunningham free throws timed it 39-39 with 6:37 left in the quarter. A 7-0 run by the Lions over the next two minutes made it 46-39 and the lead would never be retaken by the Griffons for the rest of the game. 
 
After closing out the third quarter with a 8-2 run the Lions led 57-46 the largest lead of the game at that time. In the fourth quarter the Lions would stretch the lead out to as much as 16 with 5:47 left in regulation following an Amaya Johns jumper that was assisted by Madi Stokes.
 
The ranked Griffons would not back down going on a 7-0 run over the next minute and a half to cut the deficit to nine (66-57). The Lions shut the door in the final three minutes going on a 5-0 run to claim the 71-57 win.
 
As a team the Lions had more assists (14-13), blocks (5-4), steals (11-3), points off turnovers (20-12) and forced the Griffons into 26 turnovers the most they have committed this season.
 
Up next for the Lions is Northwest Missouri on Senior Day on Saturday, tip-off from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 1:30 pm.