Missouri Southern State University Athletics

2016-17: Played in all 29 and started 26 games...earned All-MIAA honors (Honorable Mention)...One of nine players to land on the MIAA Academic Honor roll (3.525)...Finished the season as the second leading scorer on the the team and field goal percentage, averaging 12.8 points per game after shooting 47.6 percent from the field; that point total seeded her 16th in the conference...Also averaged 6.3 rebounds to lead the team and finish 14th in the conference, while posting a 79 free-throw percentage for 13th in the conference; landed in the top-20 for steals (1.3) and blocks (0.9)...Recorded a career-high 28 points in a 71-70 victory over Northwest Missouri State on February 18th...Shot a career-high 71 percent (5-for-7), including a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc against Lindenwood (Mo.) on Jan. 12th... Accumulated four double-doubles in a combination of points and rebounds at Lincoln (16-10), at Missouri S&T (13-10), versus Pittsburgh State (19-10), and against Missouri Western State (18-12)...Her 12 rebounds against MWS were a new career-high...Registered double-digit scoring in 22 of 29 games played throughout the season...Ripped of a season-high five steals against Central Oklahoma on Jan. 28th. 


2015-16: After missing the first two games of the season, Buerge played in the final 28 games with 14 starts during her freshman season...averaged 14.3 minutes per contest with 4.7 points and pulled down 2.8 rebounds per game...Buerge played a season-high 28 minutes in a 74-61 win over Southwest Baptist in Joplin on Jan. 7...shot a season best 57 percent (4-for-7) from the field in the 84-47 win over Avila on Nov. 24 and went 3-for-5 from three point range twice, at then 17th ranked Missouri Western on Dec. 12 and at Southwest Baptist on Feb. 18...was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the 48-43 home win over Northwest Missouri...Buerge came away with a season high eight rebounds in a 62-59 win over Central Missouri in Joplin as the Lions swept the Jennies for the first time since 2008...she dished out two assists at Pittsburg State on Jan. 16 and came up with three blocks against then 6th ranked Missouri Western on Jan. 30...Buerge swiped five steals from the Blue Tigers on Jan. 21 while scoring in double figures four times during the season...she set a career-high with 15 points at Southwest Baptist on Feb. 18.

Prior to Southern: Buerge, a Webb City standout, was a three-sport star for the Cardinals lettering in basketball, softball, and track. In basketball, she earned first team All-District and second team All-COC during her sophomore season at WCHS and earned first team honors for both during her junior campaign while helping WCHS to a second place finish in MSHSAA Class 4 during her sophomore season. Her senior season, Buerge was a first team All-District, All-Conference, All-Region and All-State selection, averaging 25 points and 12 rebounds per game.  In Track & Field Buerge set the WCHS record in discus with a throw of 158-11 and in the shot put with a throw of 45-0. Buerge earned All-State in both shot and discus her junior year and senior year, winning the MSHSAA Class 4 title in discus as a junior and placing second as a senior. She was an All-State selection in discus her sophomore season. She will join Coach Patty Vavra and the Lions Track & Field team for the outdoor season as well. On the softball diamond Buerge led the Cardinals to a second place state finish her junior season while earning first team All-COC, All-District, and All-State honors at shortstop.

Personal: Desirea is the daughter of Robert and Tana Buerge and has three siblings. She plans to major in nursing or biology at Southern...brother Desmond played basketball at Missouri S&T.