Joplin, Mo. – The ninth ranked Missouri Southern women's basketball program was led by Lacy Stokes with 28 points against Pittsburg State tonight inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in a 87-79 loss.
 
The Lions (12-2, 4-2 MIAA) had three in double figures in Lacy Stokes with 26 while Layne Skiles and Amaya Johns both had 13 points. Kryslyn Jones had nine points and a team-high four assists while also chipping in with a block and steal.
 
Pittsburg State (10-3, 5-2 MIAA) was led by Karenna Gerber with a 20 point, 10 rebound double-double to go with four blocks. Grace Pyle had 17 points going 4-of-8 from three, Sydney Holmes had 12 points off the bench.
 
As a team the Lions held the advantage in bench points 22-20, blocks 6-5, steals 9-7, points off turnovers 18-16, points in the paint 44-32 and forced 19 Pittsburg State turnovers.
 
Southern held a lead in the first and second quarters while getting it to within a one possession game in the third and fourth quarters multiple times but a late push by the visitors made the difference by closing on a 7-0 run.
 
Up next for the Lions is Fort Hays State (12-4, 7-1 MIAA) and Nebraska – Kearney (13-3, 6-2 MIAA) on the road. Tip-off from Gross Memorial Coliseum is set for 5:30pm on Thursday and against the Lopers in the Health & Sports Center on Saturday at 2:00pm.
 

The Missouri Southern women's basketball season is presented by People's Bank of Seneca, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.