ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist women's basketball hung close with the top team in the NAIA, the Freed-Hardeman Lions, for the first 10 minutes of Thursday's contest, but could not muster enough offense in a 77-54 loss in Henderson, Tenn.

Missouri Baptist (1-8, 1-4 AMC) hung right with the Lions at the outset, but soon saw first hand why the NAIA's No. 1-ranked team averages 82 points per game. Freed-Hardeman shot over 53 percent in the first half alone and heated-up in the final 10 minutes of the opening period.

Missouri Baptist was tied at 17 with 9:25 remaining in the half thanks to a jumper by Jerica Hawkins to pull the game even. It was at this point, however, that the Lions pulled away. FHU went on a 23-10 run to close the half, led by Alonso de Armino's 11 points.

Things did not improve much for Missouri Baptist in the second half as the Lions roared out to an 18-point lead. Freed-Hardeman shot just under 47 percent from the floor for the game, but slowed in the second half as the Spartans held them to 41 percent overall and just 1-5 from behind the arc.

Though the Spartan offense was stagnant, the team remained close in the turnover category. The Spartans forced 15 Lion turnovers on the night and recorded nine steals in the contest. Ultimately, the team struggled to collect rebounds against a team that ranks No. 2 in the nation in offensive boards.

Jerica Hawkins and Jasmine Jackson led Missouri Baptist. Both collected nine points, while Taylor Klingelhoefer notched eight points and was once again perfect from the charity stripe (4-4). Klingelhoefer is one of the most dangerous players in the nation from the free throw line this season. The guard from O'Fallon, Ill., is currently ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in Free Throw Percentage, as she is now shooting nearly 95 percent.

Missouri Baptist will now have the holiday to collect itself for a Jan. 3, 2015 clash with the Harris Stowe Hornets. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.