JOPLIN – The Missouri Southern women’s basketball program got a career-game from Layne Skiles, but the Lions couldn’t pull off the upset, falling to No. 21 ranked Central Missouri, 78-59 inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Southern (7-10, 7-10 MIAA) was led by Skiles’ career-high 21 points and three blocks, while Carley Turnbull scored seven points.
Central Missouri (14-2, 14-2 MIAA) had three score in double-figures, led by 22 points from Nija Collier.
The Lions opened up the game on a 6-2 run and led 11-10 after a layup from Skiles with 4:36 left in the first quarter. Central answered with a 6-0 run to lead 16-11 with two minutes to go in the quarter and despite a pair of threes from the Lions in the final two minutes, the Jennies led 22-17 after one.
A three from the Jennies with 5:42 remaining gave Central a 30-20 advantage and another three from UCM, this time with 1:56 left in the quarter pushed the Jennies’ lead to 15 (38-23). Skiles hit a pair of threes in the final minute, the latter as time was expiring to get the Lions back to within ten (41-31) at the break.
Central opened up a 51-34 lead midway through the third quarter, and five late points from the Jennies in the final 29 seconds made the third quarter score 64-42, UCM.
A bucket from Megan Jackson with seven minutes left in the fourth got the Lions within 16 (65-49), while a pair of freebies from Turnbull with 3:53 to go made the score 71-52, but that would be as close as the Lions got.
The Lions shot 43 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line, as well as 78 percent from the free throw line.
Southern will be back in action next Thursday when the Lions travel to St. Joseph to take on Missouri Western. Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm.
