by Kerry Stadler
Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern women’s basketball program ran away with a 86-69 win tonight inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center over Emporia State.
Southern (14-4, 6-4 MIAA) was led by Kaitlin Hunnicutt with a career-high 20 points going 4-of-8 from three. Krylsyn Jones had 18 points, seven rebounds, a season-high six assists and four steals in 28 minutes, while Layne Skiles added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists as well. Amaya Johns led the bench with 12 points and three rebounds.
The Lady Hornets (9-8, 4-7 MIAA) were led by Sidney Tinner with 12 points and seven rebounds. Kylee Scheer and Ehlaina Hartman scored 11 points each off the bench with Hartman claiming six rebounds and dishing out three assists.
The Lions held the advantage over Emporia State in field goal percentage 48.4-43.5, three pointers made 12-8, three point percentage 42.9-42.0, free throws made 14-7, rebounds 39-30, offensive rebounds 13-10, defensive rebounds 26-20, assists 21-11, steals 9-8, fast break points 27-12, points off turnovers 22-9 and second chance points 15-8 while holding a lead for 38:30.
In the first quarter the Lions jumped out to a 17-4 lead following a Johns jumper with Mia Topping getting the assist at 3:51 and as a team had made three three’s in the quarter so far. To close out the quarter the Lions had a 10-6 run for a 27-10 lead after the first quarter with Hunnicutt making two threes in the quarter and Topping having five points as well.
The second quarter saw the Lady Hornets begin the quarter on a 8-5 run to make it 32-18 with 5:37 remaining but a 7-0 run by the Lions quickly made it 39-18 with 4:13 left following a driving layup by Jones. Emporia State would close the half out with a 11-4 run to make it 43-29 with Jones scoring nine points and Skiles adding seven points in the half for the Lions.
Southern got to 50 points first thanks to a Jones jumper with Skiles picking up her third assist of the game with 7:38 left in the third quarter to make it 50-33. The Lady Hornets responded with a 8-4 run but the Lions countered with a 13-3 run to head to the fourth quarter up 67-44.
To begin the fourth quarter Emporia State got off to a 6-3 run in the first 1:24 to make it 70-50 with 8:26 left. Both teams traded baskets for the rest of the game but the Lions lead was never threatened in a 86-69 final score.
