ST LOUIS – Seniors Mandy Kirby and Lauren Taylor took the Missouri Baptist women's basketball team on their backs Thursday night and led the Spartans to a 76-67 victory over the visiting Harris-Stowe Hornets.
Mandy Kirby finished her career night with a double-double, 14 points and ten assists. Kirby also added nine rebounds, falling just one short off a triple-double. Lauren Taylor led the scoring attack with 17 points and added four rebounds.
The Spartans came out ready to take care of business against the Hornets. MBU built a nine point lead, 15-9, with just under 13 minutes left in the first half and did not look back. MBU led at the half, 37-28.
After the break MBU came out strong. The Spartans controlled the tempo for most of the second half. MBU worked out to a 19 point lead, 70-51, with 4:28 left to play in the game, but the Hornets were not going down without a fight.
The Hornets went on a 13-4 run to close the gap 74-64 with 1:45 to play, but was too little too late. The Spartans took home the victory in front of an energetic home crowd.
For the Spartans, Taylor Klingelhoefer was the third player in double-digit scoring with 13 points.
Shanique Buford led the way for Harris-Stowe. Buford finished with a game high 26 points and 15 rebounds.
The Spartans move to 5-10 on the season and 2-1 in the AMC. MBU will look to win their third consecutive game Sat. Jan 12 as they travel to Springfield, Ill. to battle with the Benedictine University Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
