KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgHot Second Half Leads 21st Ranked Lady Hornets over Lions, 79-65

Hot Second Half Leads 21st Ranked Lady Hornets over Lions, 79-65

EMPORIA, KS – The drought at WL White Auditorium continued for Missouri Southern (7-16, 3-14 MIAA) Saturday evening as the number 21-ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets (17-5, 12-4 MIAA) pulled away in the second half for a 20 point victory, 79-65.  The Lions have not won at Emporia State since February 24, 1996.

The first half saw the Lions play their best road game at White Auditorium going into the locker room down one to number 21-ranked Emporia State University Lady Hornets, 28-27.

Emporia State led by as much as nine in the first half, 19-10, with 7:32 to play in the half before the Lions would get a three from freshman Haley Weathers to cut the lead to three, 22-19, with 3:25 on the clock.  That three by Weathers would ignite an 11-3 run to end the half with Weathers connecting for eight points.  Junior Kelby Fritz hit a three with 1:17 in the middle of that run, before ESU would close with a three pointer.

Weathers and junior Erin Rice led the way for the Lions with eight points each in the first stanza, while junior Nyzera Fleming pulled down a team high four rebounds with Rice and junior Dysyan Malone with three each.

Coming out of the locker room the Lady Hornets expanded that one point lead into five 35-30 before a 6-0 to give ESU a 10 point lead, 48-38 with just over 10 minutes to go.   The Lady Hornets would then methodically expand their lead to 20 points.

Southern would go for more than four minutes between field goals, as the Lady Hornets expanded their lead.

Weathers tied her season high with 23 points and Fritz added 12.  Fleming led the way on the boards with eight for the Lions (four offensive and four defensive).

Junior Tatianna Washington left the game in the second half with a knee injury and did not return to the game.

Southern will be back in action on Wednesday night as they host the 9th ranked Lady Blues of Washburn University.  Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.