COLUMBIA, Mo. – Just two days after dropping their first game in American Midwest Conference play, the Missouri Baptist women's basketball team earned its first conference victory against the Stephens College Stars 63-57 on Saturday afternoon.
Stephens jumped out to an early 10-2 lead five minutes into the first half, and tried to put the Spartans down quickly. The Stars worked up to a nine point lead, 19-10, with 10:49 to play in the first half.
MBU turned the switch on and quickly went on a 14-0 run to take a 24-19 lead with just over five minutes left in the half. The Spartans took a four point lead, 30-26, into halftime.
The Spartans continued to roll in the second half and jumped out to a 38-30 lead with 13:17 left and they did not stop there. MBU maintained the pressure and built up a 12 point lead 50-38 with just less than eight minutes left to play in the game.
Missouri Baptist never trailed in the second half of the game and went on to earn the victory 63-57. MBU shot 38 percent from the field despite going 0-7 from 3-point range.
Senior Mandy Kirby led the way for the Spartans with 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Iesha McDaniel had a big game inside as well adding 12 points and eight rebounds. Lauren Taylor was the third Spartan in double figures with 10 points.
The Spartans moved to 4-10 for the season and 1-1 in the AMC. They return home to take on the Harris-Stowe State Hornets on Thursday Jan. 10th. The game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
