Edmond, Okla. – The Missouri Southern women’s basketball team trailed by as many ten points in the fourth quarter, but the Lions fought back and nearly pulled out the road win, falling 75-74 late at Central Oklahoma.
The Lions (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) got on the board first as senior guard/forward Carley Turnbull hit a corner three on the Lions first possession. Freshman guard Kaitlin Hunnicutt was a spark from the bench hitting two three-pointers to spark a 6-1 run pushing the Lions ahead 11-7 early in the quarter. Southern finished the first quarter with a 21-18 lead over the Bronchos (1-0, 1-0 MIAA).
The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, but the Lions clamped down on defense limiting the Bronchos to 2-12 from the field in the quarter. Southern kept the lead into halftime 34-31, as the Lions shot 50 percent from behind the three-point line at break.
The third quarter saw the Lions trail by eight at the end of the quarter after the Bronchos went on a 9-2 in the early portion to head in a media timeout with the score tied at 38. UCO closed out the quarter with a 14-6 run.
In the fourth quarter, Southern stormed back as Hunnicutt hit back-to-back three before a Megan Jackson steal and fast-break layup and-one had the Lions trailing 67-65 with 4:10 remaining.
Hunnicutt trimmed the lead back down a minute later after stealing the ball near half court and sinking a contested fast-break layup to be in position to comeback. Sophomore center Madi Stokes had a put back layup and-one to push Southern ahead 71-70 with 2:05 remaining on the next possession.
The Bronchos made a free throw with 23 seconds remaining to push the lead to 73-71, before Turnbull drilled home layup and free throw to put Southern in front 74-73 with 18 seconds to go. However, with eight seconds remaining on the clock, the Bronchos knocked down two free throws to clinch the win as a last second three-pointer from the Lions no good.
Carley Turnbull made a debut to remember for the Lions, leading the team with 15 points, nabbing two steals in the process as well. Hunnicutt lead all bench scorers with 14 points connecting on a game-high four three-pointers. Jackson posted a career high in scoring with 11 points, going 4-for-4 from the field while dishing out two assists in her first start as a Lion. Stokes led the Lions with 11 rebounds while adding six points.
The Lions head north to take on Newman this Saturday with a tip-off scheduled for 1:30 pm from Fugate Gymnasium.
