Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team hosted the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene University in the final non-conference game at home before beginning conference play. A dominant first three quarters set the tone for the Lions as a 24-point outing from
Kaitlin Hunnicutt would lead the way to defeat the Crimson Storm, 68-60.
Missouri Southern (5-4) vs. Southern Nazarene (2-3)
Quarter 1: Missouri Southern 15 | Southern Nazarene 8
The Lions began the game on fire from the field, taking an early 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game off points from
Kaitlin Hunnicutt (three pointer and layup),
Ryan Franklin (jumper) and
Veonce Powell (layup). Both teams defensively stepped up, as neither team found a basket until the Crimson Storm scored their second basket with a layup as only 3:09 remained in the first quarter.
Mackenzie Hart, Hunnicutt and Franklin led another Lion offensive surge, scoring six points to grow the Lions lead to eight (15-7) with 1:16 remaining. A free throw from the Crimson Storm was the only point scored in the remaining time as the Lions held a 15-8 lead after the first quarter.
Quarter 2: Missouri Southern 30 | Southern Nazarene 22
The Lions began the second quarter scoreless over the first four minutes of play as the Crimson Storm took advantage and tied the game at 15-15. The Lions would find their first baskets of the second quarter off a three pointer from
Veonce Powell and a layup from
Makenna Yokley to regain their lead with 5:25 until halftime, 20-15. Both teams traded baskets until halftime, but two three pointers off one each from
Kaitlin Hunnicutt and Powell gave the Lions a 30-22 lead at the half.
Quarter 3: Missouri Southern 54 | Southern Nazarene 41
The Lions came out in the third quarter with aggression, sparking a 5-0 run from a
Kaitlin Hunnicutt layup and a
Mackenzie Hart three pointer to grow the lead to 35-22 within the first 40 seconds. The Crimson Storm returned with a 11-4 scoring advantage to narrow their deficit to 39-33 with six minutes remaining. Hunnicutt began to catch fire, connecting with three consecutive three pointers sparking a 11-2 run and growing the Lions lead to 50-35 with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter. The second three point attempt from Hunnicutt marked MSSU program history as she surpassed Melisa Grider (1993-96) for the all-time most three point attempts in program history with 518. It was a back-and-forth finish to the end of the third as the quarter ended in a 54-41 Lion lead.
Quarter 4: Missouri Southern 68 | Southern Nazarene 60
Missouri Southern jumped out to a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter from two
Grace Frazier jumpers and another
Kaitlin Hunnicutt three pointer to take a 20 point, 61-41, lead with 7:51 remaining. Southern Nazarene returned with a 11-2 run to narrow the deficit to 63-52 with 2:44 remaining in the game. The Crimson Storm would counter three Frazier free throws and bring the game within single digits, 66-58, with one minute remaining. Frazier had a clutch steal with 33 seconds remaining to force a Crimson Storm foul that led to two made free throws from
Mackenzie Hart. The Lions lead would be enough to counter a Crimson Storm layup and take the victory at home, 68-60.
Missouri Southern Leaders:
Points: Kaitlin Hunnicutt - 24
Rebounds: Makenna Yokley - 9
Assists: Veonce Powell - 4
Steals: Kaitlin Hunnicutt - 2
Blocks: Kaitlin Hunnicutt,
Ryan Franklin,
Kennady Roach,
Makenna Yokley - 1
Southern Nazarene Leaders:
Points: Katie King - 19
Rebounds: Hannah Giddey - 10
Assists: Umi Otsuka, Jena Bay - 2
Steals: Braci Nyberg - 2
Blocks: Hannah Giddey, Umi Otsuka - 2
Up Next:
The Lions will head to Puerto Rico to compete in the Puerto Rico Clasico on November 26-27, taking on the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in the final non-conference games before beginning conference play.
-Lions-
