Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball hosted the Miners of Missouri University of Science and Technology in the Lions home-opener. A dominant first half led the way to a home-opening victory for the Lions over the Miners, 76-65.
Missouri Southern (2-3) vs. Missouri S&T (0-1)
Quarter 1: Missouri Southern 20 | Missouri S&T 15
Kaitlin Hunnicutt was the first to score in Leggett & Platt for the 2024-25 season with a three pointer in the first 10 seconds of the game.
Makenna Yokley (two layups) and
Reese Webb (one layup) would grow the lead to 9-0 as the Lions defense kept the Miners off the board in the first three minutes of play. After the Miners brought their deficit to two points with 3:04 remaining in the first,
Mia Topping would begin a 5-0 run with a three pointer followed by a fast break layup from
Mackenzie Hart. Both teams would knock down back-and-forth free throws as the first quarter would come to end in a 15-10 lead for the Lions.
Quarter 2: Missouri Southern 38 | Missouri S&T 28
The Lions opened their second consecutive quarter with a three pointer in the opening seconds, this time coming from senior
Mia Topping. Both teams traded baskets through the first eight minutes of the second quarter as the Lions lead was cut to only four with 2:05 remaining until halftime.
Reese Webb sparked a run with a steal leading to a basket that was followed by a layup from
Mackenzie Hart and a floater from
Morgan Meyers in the closing seconds as the Lions went into halftime with a 10 point, 38-28, lead.
Quarter 3: Missouri Southern 55 | Missouri S&T 45
It was the Miners sinking a three pointer to begin the third quarter.
Makenna Yokley would return with a layup as both teams had only one basket in the first 3:00 minutes of the second half.
Makenna Yokley continued to score for the Lions, knocking down two consecutive layups as the Lions defense held the Miners to only five points in the first four minutes. It was an even scoring battle to the finish as Lions retained their 10 point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Quarter 4: Missouri Southern 76 | Missouri S&T 65
After a couple buckets fell for both teams,
Mackenzie Hart and
Kaitlin Hunnicutt nailed back-to-back three pointers to take a 63-49 lead with 7:33 remaining in the game. Kennedy Roach caught fire with two threes in the final quarter of play, helping maintain a double-digit lead with under five minutes remaining. Neither team was able to take over in the final minutes, ending the game in favor of the Lions, 76-65.
Missouri Southern Leaders:
Points: Mackenzie Hart - 18
Rebounds: Makenna Yokley - 8
Assists: Mackenzie Hart - 7
Steals: Reese Webb - 3
Blocks: Makenna Yokley, Kennedy Roach - 1
Missouri S&T Leaders:
Points: Morgan Luebbering - 15
Rebounds: Anna Finley - 7
Assists: Anna Finley - 4
Steals: Anna Finley - 2
Blocks: Katelynne Roberts - 3
Up Next:
Women's Basketball will travel to Fort Smith, Ark. to compete in the Hampton Inn Classic on Saturday, November 16, to take on the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats on day one of the Classic at 3:00 PM on Saturday in Gayle Kaundart Arena.
-Lions-
