Warrenburg, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team traveled to Warrensburg, Missouri on Thursday, December 14, to take on the number three nationally ranked Jennies of Central Missouri in MIAA play. The Lions were able to pull off a huge upset as winning the first three quarters gave the Lions their most impactful win of the season, beating the #3 Jennies 78-66. The Lions advance to 6-4 (3-2 MIAA) on the season.
The Lions had the early advantage in the first quarter, taking a 7-2 lead in the first four minutes of play. The #3 Jennies returned with a 8-2 run and took their first lead, 10-9, of the game with 2:42 remaining in the first. The back-and-forth play continued throughout the remainder of the quarter, but the Lions ended the first quarter with a 16-14 lead over the #3 Jennies.
Maggie Sockey led the Lions in scoring in the first quarter with six points (3-4 FG).
Missouri Southern began the second quarter with a 5-0 run in the first minute and a half of play. It was a fight till the halftime buzzer as neither team went on a significant run in the remaining time. A 52 percent shooting from the field performance, compared to the Jennies 38.5 percent, gave the edge to the Lions at the half as early signs of an upset were displayed with the #3 Jennies trailing 35-28 at halftime to the Lions.
Kaitlin Hunnicutt found her stride in the second quarter as she became the leading scorer for the Lions with 13 points (4-9 FG, 2-2 FT) and grabbed two rebounds.
The third quarter was a shootout from the beginning to the end. The Lions continued to slightly win on both sides of the court as they continued to shoot over 50 percent from the field and only allowed five of 17 shots from the Jennies to fall. The Lions continued to inch closer to an upset as they led the #3 Jennies 55-42 with one quarter to go.
After a quick 4-0 start for the Lions, the Jennies were not going to give up a perfect season with ease, going on a 8-0 run and narrowing their deficit to nine with 7:26 left in the ball game. The Lions were able to ultimately add to that lead come away with a big upset over the #3 Jennies in a 78-66 victory.
Five Lions finished in double-digits in the huge win.
Brandi Hudson led the Lions in scoring with a highly efficient 19 points (7-8 FG, 5-5 FT), three steals and two rebounds.
Kaitlin Hunnicutt was everywhere on the night, scoring 13 points (4-12 FG, 2-2 FT), eight assists, six rebounds, four steals and a block.
Ryan Franklin (6-8 FG, 1-1 FT) and
Maggie Sockey (5-10 FG, 2-2 FT) both had 13 points on the night as well.
Kryslyn Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points (5-10 FG).
The MSSU Women's Basketball team will compete in game two of a four-game road trip on Saturday, December 16, to take on Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri at 1:00 PM in Jason Gym.
The Missouri Southern women's basketball season is presented by People's Bank of Seneca, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.
