Warrensburg, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team faced Concordia University-St. Paul in the opening day of the Central Bank Crossover Tournament. Despite a three pointer from
Mackenzie Hart tying the game with 16 seconds remaining, a returned three from the Golden Bears would give them the win over the Lions, 72-69.
Missouri Southern (0-3) vs. Concordia-St. Paul (1-0)
Quarter 1: Missouri Southern 19 | Concordia-St. Paul 23
Kaitlin Hunniuctt and
Ryan Franklin combined for an 11-3 run to put the Lions up early. The Golden Bears then found their rhythm and answered with a 13-2 run of their own.
Mackenzie Hart added four of a six point run the Lions would return with to regain the lead. The quarter of back-and-forth runs ended with yet another 7-0 answer from the Golden Bears as they closed the quarter with a four-point lead.
Quarter 2: Missouri Southern 36 | Concordia-St. Paul 39
The Golden Bears would jump out to a 10 point lead with 8:20 remaining in the first half. The Lions began to trade back-and-forth with a jumper from
Ryan Franklin, a
Kaitlin Hunnicutt free throw and a
Veonce Powell three pointer.
Kennady Roach,
Kaitlin Hunnicutt and
Makenna Yokley led the Lions to cut the deficit to three as halftime sounded.
Quarter 3: Missouri Southern 53 | Concordia-St. Paul 47
The Lions defense took a huge turn in the third quarter, only allowing eight total points to the Golden Bears. After 12 points were scored by the Lions,
Veonce Powell would close the third quarter with five straight points in the final two minutes. The Lions lead at the end of the third quarter marked the first leading quarter of the season.
Quarter 4: Missouri Southern 69 | Concordia-St. Paul 72
The Golden Bears would bring their deficit to within one in the first minute of the fourth.
Veonce Powell countered two Golden Bear free throws with two layups to make the Lions lead 57-54 with 7:30 remaining. Both teams returned baskets as the Lions lead would fall to a one-point deficit with 2:10 remaining. Four lead changes in the final minutes brought the game to a final shot situation as
Mackenzie Hart drilled a three with 16 seconds remaining to tie the game at 69-69. The Golden Bears answered directly out of a timeout with a three pointer to take the lead as a last second shot opportunity for the Lions would not connect, giving the Golden Bears a win in their season opener.
Missouri Southern Leaders:
Points: Kaitlin Hunnicutt - 28
Rebounds: Ryan Franklin - 8
Assists: Mackenzie Hart - 6
Steals: Mackenzie Hart,
Kaitlin Hunnicutt - 4
Blocks: Makenna Yokley - 2
Up Next:
Women's Basketball will stay in Warrensburg, Mo. to compete in their final game of the Central Bank Crossover Tournament on Saturday, November 9, against Henderson State University at 11:30 AM in Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
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