JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern pulled away with a late first-half run and extended the margin in the second half en route to a 70-51 win over the Rogers State women's basketball team on Saturday (Dec. 1) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
With the score tied at 26-26 with 2:30 remaining before halftime after a Desiree Nelson 3-pointer, the host Lions ended the quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 33-26 lead into the break. The spurt was capped by a Morgan Brightwell 3-pointer in the final minute of the half.
 
The Hillcats (3-5) could only get as close as five points early in the second half at 35-30 with 8:03 left in the third quarter on two free throws from Azaria Floyd.
 
MSSU held a 48-38 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
 
In the final stanza, the Lions pushed the margin out to the final 70-51 score. The fourth period saw MSSU go 18-of-20 from the free throw line and take only six shots from the floor.
 
The Hillcats finished at 25.4 percent (16-63) from the field and 17.6 percent (6-34) in the second half. The Lions were 40.4 percent from the floor and hit 21-of-24 free throws for 87.5 percent. RSU went 14-of-26 shooting from the free throw line for 53.8 percent.
 
Caryle Bohannan scored a career-high 11 points and went 2-for-2 from 3, banking in both attempts. The senior added a team-high four rebounds and three assists. She was the lone Hillcat in double figures. Lauren Schuldt finished with nine points, four rebounds and four blocks, all coming in the first half.
 
Three Lions posted double digits in scoring led by a game-high 14 points from Zoe Campbell as she went 6-of-8 shooting. Chasidee Owens tallied a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Destiny Cozart posted 11 points.
 
The Hillcats are back in action in one week against East Central (Dec. 8) at 4 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center. The game starts a seven-game homestand for the navy and red. Coverage of all seven games will be available on the Hillcat Network.