Southern Women and Men fall at Western

Western pulls away to halt Lions` streak Box Score ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Missouri Southern cut a 10-point halftime deficit to six early in the second, but the quick burst ignited No. 25 Missouri Western as the Griffons snapped Southern`s nine-game winning streak, 70-48, on Monday. The Lions (9-2, 1-1 MIAA) shot only 32.1 percent for the game, including just 5.9 percent from three-point range. Western made 47.4 percent of its shots and outrebounded MSSU 47-31. Late in the first half, Southern posted a 20-19 lead in a game that, to that point, had seen neither team lead by more than three. Western outscored Southern 13-2 to end the half and take a 32-22 lead into the break. The Lions shot only 30 percent in the first half and didn`t make any of their seven three-point tries. Katie Deen`s three-pointer with 6:13 to go marked Southern`s only made triple of the night. Free throws from junior Nicole Greninger and layups from senior Aubrie Hallman and junior Dacie Reutlinger made it 34-28 in the first 1:48 of the second half. The Griffons then outscored the Lions 23-9 over the next 11:40 and never looked back. Selma Barbosa had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Griffons (9-2, 1-1). Senior Vonny Wilson had 16 points and 11 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double. Reutlinger added 10 points for the Lions, who saw scoring leader Hallman held to single-digits for the third straight outing. Jill Johnson and Eldra Paixao added 12 points for Western. The loss snapped Southern`s nine-game winning streak since a season-opening loss. The nine-game tear matched the Lions` longest in coach Maryann Mitts` tenure and the team`s best since 1995-96. MSSU continues at on the road on Wednesday, playing at Pittsburg State in the Del Rio Bordertown Battle. Tipoff time is slated for 5:30 p.m. MSSU returns home for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday with Northwest Missouri. Griffons surge in second half, trim Lions 89-85 Box Score ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Missouri Southern trailed by as many as 10 in the first half, and led by as many as eight in the second, but ultimately fell, 89-85, on Monday at Missouri Western. The Griffons (8-3, 2-0 MIAA) started the game by outscoring Southern 10-2, but Southern (5-8, 1-1) bounced back with a 13-7 spurt that was bookended by three-pointers from freshman Tyler Ryerson. The MWSC lead stayed between two and eight points over the next 7:23, but after four points from MSSU`s Jeremie Bond, the Griffons scored five points in the next 35 seconds and pushed it to 10 points, 35-25. Western led 43-38 at halftime. Southern started the second half on a 15-2 run, keyed by eight points from senior Hiram Ocasio, and led by eight, 53-45, with 4:10 gone after the break. Western`s Demarius Bolds scored six points in 1:43 and the Griffons had the lead for good. MSSU trailed by 10 with 2:15 left by Western turnovers left the door open. Quentin Edwards converted back-to-back layups in 18 seconds and the Lions trailed by five, 83-78, with 1:29 to play. The Griffons would hit 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Six players from each team scored in double figures. The Griffons got 20 points each from Bolds and Fred Battles, who combined to go 14-of-24 from the field and 9-of-10 at the foul line. Bolds added team highs with six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Langston Grady and Justin Collins each had 11, while King and Roosevelt Bolden had 10 apiece. The Lions were led by a career-high 18 points from Edwards, a junior, and another 13 from junior Jeremy McCadney. Ocasio and Bond ended with 12 apiece, while Cavness had 11 and Ryerson 10. McCadney had six rebounds and Ryerson handed out five assists. Southern outrebounded their foe by 10, 34-24, but gave up 54.9 percent shooting after three straight games with opponents shooting below 41 percent. The Griffons made two more threes and shot 81.3 percent (26-of-32) from the free throw line. The Lions will continue on the road at Pittsburg State on Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. clash in the Del Rio Bordertown Battle. Then MSSU returns home to face Northwest Missouri State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.