by Hays, Kan. – The 11th ranked Missouri Southern women’s basketball program got 15 points today from Kryslyn Jones inside Gross Memorial Coliseum against Fort Hays State, falling 72-54.
The Lions (12-3, 4-3 MIAA) had Jones (15) and Madi Stokes (12) in double figures with both also grabbing five rebounds. Layne Skiles had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds to go with a block and steal. Hailey Grant led the bench scoring effort with seven points while adding two rebounds and steals, Amaya Johns led the bench unit with five rebounds. Lacy Stokes finished with a game-high eight assists.
Fort Hays State (13-4, 8-1 MIAA) was led by Kate Dilsaver with 16 points and two steals, Ellie Stearns and Oliva Hollenbeck both had 12 points to round out the double digit scorers. Emma Ruddle had nine points off the bench to go with five rebounds as well. Sydney Golladay had six points, six rebounds and a team-high four assists.
In the game the Lions held the advantage in three’s made 8-6, offensive rebounds 10-4, assists 17-16 and fast break points 5-0 while having a lead for 13:16 of the game that saw two ties and three lead changes.
A quick 14-3 run to begin the first quarter by the Lions paved the way for a 16-15 end of quarter lead. In the first Jones had six points going 2-of-4 from three with Madi Stokes and Layne Skiles having four points each.
The second quarter both teams tied it up in the first two minutes before a 7-3 run by Fort Hays State made it 28-24 in favor of the Tigers with 4:54 left in the half. Southern would get three’s from Skiles and Jones but the Tigers held a 36-30 lead going into the half.
In the third quarter the Lions burst out on a 12-3 run to reclaim the lead and make it a 42-39 score with 5:25 left thanks to a Skiles driving layup following back-to-back three’s by Jones and Kaitlin Hunnicutt with Lacy picking up the assists. The Tigers responded with a 7-1 run to close the quarter and held a 46-43 lead heading into the fourth.
Fort Hays State got the scoring going in the fourth and an 11-4 run made it a ten point deficit at 5:13 left (57-47). Lacy Stokes would get a 7-2 started with a layup before a three by Hailey Grant and Madi Stokes jumper made it a five point game (59-54) with 3:02 left but that would be as close as it would get.
