The Missouri Southern women’s basketball team took a big step to securing an MIAA Tournament Berth as the Lions used a stingy defense to knock off Washburn 59-51 on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Southern (8-13) was led offensively by Carley Turnbull who scored 16 points on 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from long-range. Madi Stokes scored 11 points and added nine rebounds and a block, going 5-of-7 from the field in the game.
Washburn (10-11) was led by Lauren Cassaday and Nuria Barrientos with 15 points each.
Southern held the Ichabods to just 12 points in the first half, two of which came in the second quarter where the Lions held Washburn to just a pair of made free throws.
The Lions opened up a 10-2 lead halfway through the first quarter after a bucket in the paint from Turnbull. A late bucket from Washburn cut the Lions’ lead to 16-10 after one. Southern utilized a hearty defense in the second quarter and outscored the Ichabods 19-2 in the frame. A bucket from Amaya Johns made the score 33-11 with two minutes to go and layup from Anna Hall with 19 seconds to go made the halftime score 35-12, Lions.
Scoring was even in the third quarter at 11 apiece. The Lions led by 24 on multiple occasions and a bucket from Johns with 1:34 left in the quarter pushed the lead to 26 (46-20). Southern led 46-23 after three.
Washburn made a run at the Lions in the fourth quarter outscoring Southern 28-13 in the period, but the Lions held off the late charge to seal the win.
Southern shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from long-range, while making 73 percent of its free throws. The Lions held Washburn to just 33 percent from the field and 15 percent from long-range.
The Lions will be back in action this Saturday as Southern plays host to Central Oklahoma for Senior Day. Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m.
