by Jonah Fabian
Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women’s Basketball team hosted the Hillcats of Rogers State on Saturday, January 27, in a conference matchup. The highest-scoring first half of the season put the Lions out-of-reach as they went a perfect 7-0 in the month of January, defeating the Hillcats 76-54. The Lions advance to 15-4 (11-2 MIAA) on the season.
Defense was leading to offense for the Lions to start the ball game as they forced five Hillcat turnovers in the first five minutes which turned into five points, which was a big part of their 13-4 lead with 4:41 left in the first. After a quick layup from Brandi Hudson, the Hillcats began to find their offense going on a 7-0 run to bring the score within four. The Lions ended the quarter on a 6-1 run to take a 21-12 lead after 10 minutes of play. Kryslyn Jones led the Lions in scoring with eight points (3-4 FG, 2-3 3P).
The Lions were hot to start the second, beginning the quarter on a 11-0 run with a layup from Ryan Franklin and three three-pointers, two from Kaitlin Hunnicutt and one from Mira Khan. On the defensive end, the Hillcats could only convert 30 percent of their field goals in the first seven minutes of play, while the Lions were shooting over 60 percent. The Lions ended the first half with their highest scoring half in conference play since December 2021 with 50 points, leading the Hillcats 50-24, assisting on eight of their 10 total field goals in the second. Kaitlin Hunnicutt (4-5 FG, 4-5 3P) and Kryslyn Jones (4-6 FG, 2-3 3P) both finished the half with a team-high 12 points. Reese Webb (3-5 FG, 2-2 FT) and Mira Khan (2-5 FG, 2-2 3P) both had a great half on both ends of the floor, adding eight points each offensively.
The Hillcats put up a fight in the third, outscoring the Lions 17-11 in the quarter. Despite the scoring burst from the Hillcats, the Lions still had a 20-point, 61-41, lead with one quarter to go.
It was a 7-0 run to begin the fourth for the Lions as they built an unreachable lead. The Lions of Missouri Southern went on to win their 12th game in a row with a blowout victory over Rogers State, 76-54. This victory makes the Lions a perfect 7-0 in the month of January which has not been done since November 2022. The 12-game win streak also tops last season’s streak of 11-games which ended in December 2022.
Three Lions finished in double-digits in the victory. Kryslyn Jones led the Lions with 19 points (7-12 FG, 3-4 3P) and two rebounds. Kaitlin Hunnicutt was on fire from beyond the arch, scoring 15 points (5-11 FG, 5-8 3P), four rebounds and four assists. Mira Khan rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-3 3P), two assists and two steals. The Lions held the Hillcats to only 35.6% shooting from the field on the day while shooting an efficient 49.1% from the field themselves.
