ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri Baptist women's basketball team started off the 2012-2013 season with a solid 65-61 victory over the visiting Culver-Stockton Wildcats. The Spartans opened the season at MBU in front of a packed gymnasium and let the fans have a very entertaining game. 

The Spartans started off the game poised and looked like a very different team than the 9-21 team from last season. Ester Brown scored the first two baskets of the game and set the tone for MBU for game. Both teams battled back and forth for about the first nine minutes of the game leaving MBU with a 14-13 lead with 10:37 to go in the first half. 

The Wildcats called a timeout and the lead quickly turned in the Wildcats favor in a hurry. Two minutes later they had an eight point lead over the Spartans 22-14. They maintained the energy and stretched out the lead to 29-20 with 5:03 to go in the half. 

The Spartans said enough was enough and turned it on to close out the half on a 11-2 run and tied the game at 31. 

After trading baskets to start the second half the Spartans opened up their largest lead of the game. They led 58-40 with 6:33 remaining in the game, but the Wildcats were not going down without a fight. 

Following an offensive foul by Brown, the Wildcats made a layup to cut the Spartans lead to six, 63-57, with 1:34 to play in the game. However, it was too little to late as MBU held on for the victory. 

Seniors Lauren Taylor and Mandy Kirby both led the Spartans with 11 points. Newcomer Kristyne Smyth, the transfer from Parkland C.C., added 10 points for the Spartans. Brown finished the game with five points and five rebounds. 

The Spartans start off the season 1-0 and look to continue a strong start on Sat. Nov. 10 hosting McKendree University, as part of the homecoming week at MBU.