Box Score
JOPLIN, Mo. - In a game where neither team led by more than four points in the second half, Missouri Southern scored six of the final eight points to top the Mavericks, 60-57 Saturday afternoon at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.
Nebraska-Omaha fell to 9-7 overall and 4-5 in the MIAA while the Lions improved to 10-6 overall and 4-5 in the league.
A lay-up by
Alyssa Green tied the score, 54-54 at the 3:40 mark in the second half. After a made free throw from each team the Lions made two straight baskets to go up by four with 19 seconds remaining.
Jessica Zaruba then pulled UNO within two with a lay-up with 13 seconds left and then the Mavs fouled on MSSU's next possession. Jasmine Lovejoy made one of two free throws to put her team up by three and then
Heather Pohl missed a 3-pointer at the last second that would have sent the game into overtime.
Pohl hit five 3-pointers and led the Mavericks with 18 points. Green scored 16 off a 7-of-14 performance from the field and she had a team-high nine rebounds.
The Mavs shot 33 percent as a team from the field and 71 percent from the free throw line. The Lions were 39 percent overall and 55 percent from the line. They committed 23 turnovers while the Mavs had 17.
After giving up a game-opening basket to the Lions, the Mavs went on a 9-0 run to lead 9-2. They later pushed the lead to eight on a basket by Green before the Lions got within a point three different times before they took the lead, 28-26 with 1:55 to play in the half.
Two free throws by Green tied the score with 1:28 remaining. Neither team scored again until LaTice Jones got a lay-up with seven seconds left to give the Lions a 30-28 lead at the half.
There were then eight ties and four lead changes in the second half before the Lions went ahead in the closing minute.
Lovejoy led the Lions with 21 points and Michelle Hedgecock had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
The Mavericks will return home to host Pittsburg State Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse. The game will close out the first half of the MIAA season.
