ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist women's basketball shot 58 percent in the first half but failed to carry over the momentum in the final 20 minutes of Wednesday's game against No. 17 Lyon College. The Scots held MBU to 33 percent shooting from the floor in the second half in a 79-62 win in the American Midwest Conference Tournament Quarterfinals.
Missouri Baptist (11-21) played perhaps its best 20 minutes of the entire season on Wednesday evening. After crawling into an early 12-3 hole in the opening four minutes of the game, MBU came back with a 16-6 run led by Angela Talley and Kristyne Smyth to take a 19-18 lead.
The Spartans kept it close throughout the remainder of the half and led by as many as five, but had trouble keeping Phagen Altom off the board. The Scots' senior posted 13 first-half points and her team was able to cut the MBU lead to two heading into halftime, 41-39.
Altom did not waste any time getting back on the board after the break. She hit a three pointer on her first shot to take the lead back for the Scots. MBU's Smyth answered just seven seconds later with a fast break bucket, but this was the last time the Spartans led in the game.
The Scots held MBU to 10 points in the first 14:10 of the half and built a 16-point lead in the process. This was enough to put the game out of reach for Missouri Baptist and end the upset bid.
The No. 17-ranked Scots shot 48 percent in the game and showed resiliency in the final 20 minutes of play. Altom led the team with 23 points and was one of five to finish in double-digits. Debbie Onukwube and Whitney Keith bot recorded 13 points while Christine Smith and Suzanne Fincham posted 10 a piece. Lyon shot a fantastic 57 percent from three-point range in the second half.
Angela Talley recorded a career-high 17 points for the Spartans in the losing effort. Smyth and Lauren Taylor both posted 10 points, while Mandy Kirby finished with nine.
The loss ends the season for the Spartan women and the collegiate career for Taylor, Kirby, Leslie Damper, Iesha McDaniel, Sara Woodgeard and Melissa Bollinger.
Before the game, seven Spartans were named to the Academic All-Conference team. Taylor Klingelhoefer, Melissa Bollinger, Leslie Damper, Jasmine Jackson, Lauren Taylor, Haley Elders and Kristyne Smyth were all recipients and were honored this evening.
