by Jonah Fabian
Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women’s Basketball team hosted the Gorillas of Pittsburg State for pink day in a conference matchup. Despite trading baskets throughout the entirety of the game, a huge rebounding advantage for the Gorillas was the key in a 77-66 loss for the Lions. The Lions advance to 18-6 (14-4 MIAA) on the season.
The Lions were hitting from deep early, knocking down three early threes, the first from Reese Webb and two-in-a-row to follow from Kryslyn Jones. Neither team was able to go on a significant run or take a big lead. The Lions defense was a key part in the first as the Gorillas were only able to convert 29.4 percent of their field goals in the first quarter. Mira Khan converted a hook shot at the buzzer to end the quarter with a 20-15 Lion lead. The Lions were rolling on offense, converting 53.3 percent from the field. Kryslyn Jones was lighting it up in the first, leading the Lions with 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-3 3P).
It was a back-and-forth battle to begin the second quarter, as the Gorillas edged out a 7-6 advantage at the five minute media timeout. While the Lions were holding the Gorillas to 30 percent shooting from the field, the Gorillas were gaining their points from second chance points as they had a 6-1 offensive rebound advantage in the first six minutes that turned into four points. The Gorillas took control the remainder of the quarter, posting a 12-4 scoring advantage and taking a 34-32 lead over the Lions at the half. Kryslyn Jones continued to lead the Lions in scoring with 15 points (5-7 FG, 3-3 3P). Reese Webb was a key part in the defense leading the team with three rebounds and a block.
Mira Khan got things started in the second half with a bucket in the paint, but the Gorillas immediately followed suit with a bucket of their own. This was a trend through the first couple minutes of play as each team was able answer the other. The Lions defense began to make plays, turning the Gorillas over four times in the first four minutes. Both teams were attacking the other in the paint in different ways as the Lions scored 10 points in the paint in the first seven minutes of play, but could not seem to gather a rebound as the Gorillas held a 10-4 rebound advantage. Both teams continued to trade baskets as the Gorillas continued to lead by a bucket at the end of the third, 56-54.
Both teams continued to trade buckets to begin an intense final quarter in Leggett and Platt. The Gorillas increased their lead before the media timeout to 67-60 with multiple Lion turnovers and missed shots. The Lions came out of the media timeout with a huge block by Mira Khan that have the offense momentum for a Hannah Burg three and an inside bucket from Kryslyn Jones, but the Gorillas did not go away as their lead slightened to 70-65 with 2:48 remaining as the Gorillas called a timeout. The Gorillas came out of the timeout with a 4-1 run as coach Ronnie Ressel called a timeout with 1:40 remaining as the Lions trailed 74-66. Both teams were scoreless over the next minute as the Lions had to foul on the defensive end to stop the clock, but the Lions could not get it done as they suffered their second straight loss at home losing to the Gorillas, 77-66.
Kryslyn Jones was the only Lion to finish in double-digits on the day, scoring 19 points (7-16 FG, 3-6 3P), two steals and two rebounds. Brandi Hudson and Kaitlin Hunnicutt both finished with nine points in the game. The biggest turning point in the game was the 43-27 rebound advantage for the Gorillas. The Lions shot 43.5 percent from the field, while allowing Pittsburg State to convert 44.1 percent of theirs.
