Contact: Houston Taylor
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Facing Missouri Western State for the first time in school history, Southern Arkansas couldn’t overcome a poor shooting performance in dropping a 63-54 decision to the Griffons Monday in the Henderson State Classic at the Duke Wells Center.
Trailing 34-28 at halftime, SAU got a tip-in from Kayla Jones and one of two free throws from Goldie White to whittle it to a three-point margin with 18:20 remaining, but Southern Arkansas would get no closer as MWSU took command and cruised to the nine-point win.
The Lady Muleriders hit just nine of 34 shots (26.5 percent) in the closing half, including one of seven three-pointers (14.3), which limited scoring opportunities. Combined with a 10 for 26 outing in the first frame, SAU finished 19 of 60 (31.7) for the game, and was five of 19 (26.3) from downtown. They went to the free throw line 17 times, converting on 11 for 64.7 percent.
Jill Johnson’s lay-up concluded a 12-5 run that gave Missouri Western its first double-digit lead of the second half at 46-36 with 12:41 left. The Griffons went on to a 16-point advantage with their last points of the game at 2:55. Four MWSU turnovers and a missed trey allowed Southern Arkansas to make one final flurry as they scored the game’s last seven points over the final minutes.
Missouri Western (4-2) jumped out to a 9-2 edge with Johnson getting five points in the game’s first three minutes. The Lady Muleriders fought back, eventually taking a 16-15 advantage on Shardae Thompson’s three at 9:02. After Johnson hit one of two freebies to tie, Shanaye Davis canned two for an 18-16 SAU lead at 8:16, their last advantage as the Griffons exploded with a 15-2 spree for a 31-20 margin with 2:27 left.
Johnson and Yanique Javois were double-trouble for Southern Arkansas, with Johnson providing the double, 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Javois spelled trouble by pouring in 16 first half points and finishing with 22 to lead all scorers. Rachel Luteyn added 12 points, and Chemia Woods had six steals.
MWSU finished 25 of 51 (49.0) from the field, four of 18 (22.2) on treys, and was nine of 13 (69.2) at the line.
White was the only Lady Mulerider in double-figure scoring, finishing with 19, and also had seven thefts. Calisha Kirk added nine points and seven rebounds, and Thompson pulled down eight boards.
Missouri Western held a slim 37-34 rebound advantage, and committed 20 turnovers to SAU’s 16. Southern Arkansas had just eight team fouls in the game.
The Lady Muleriders (4-6) conclude nine consecutive games on the road Tuesday as they wrap up play in the classic, taking on Pittsburg State (Kan.) at 4 p.m. Pittsburg State held on for a 69-60 win over SAU November 30 at Monticello in the UAM Classic.
