ST. LOUIS - Freshman Kennedy Smith and senior Kristyne Smyth combined for 45 points, as the Missouri Baptist women's basketball team soundly defeated Benedictine-Springfield, 81-60. The Spartans outscored the Bulldogs by 28 points in the second half.
Missouri Baptist (7-14, 5-8) swept the season series over Benedictine-Springfield (4-19, 2-13). The Spartans shot 48 percent from the floor, making 33-of-68 shots. MBU also made 4-of-11 shots from three-point range, and 11-of-15 from the free throw line. The Spartans pulled down 53 rebounds in the contest, including 14 in the offensive zone.
The Bulldogs made 24-of-67 (36%) of the shots from the floor, and just 5-of-20 from deep range. BENU had only 32 rebounds in the game, 21 less than the Spartans.
Freshman Kennedy Smith netted a career-high 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor. She also had seven rebounds and three assists.
Senior Kristyne Smyth once again led the Spartans in scoring, sinking 9-of-20 shots from the floor en route to 25 points. Smyth also made 3-of-6 shots from deep range and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. She dished out five assists, the fifth time in eight games that she has reached at least five assists.
Morgan Settle scored eight points and led the Spartans with nine rebounds, including five in the offensive zone. She also had both of MBU's two blocks.
With 9:52 left in the first half, Angela Talley drained a three-pointer to give MBU its largest lead of the half, 26-17. Instead of sparking the Spartans, the big bucket switched the momentum towards the Bulldogs. Benedictine-Springfield went on a 10-0 run over the next 2:25 to take its first lead of the game, 27-26.
The Spartans were able to settle things down, as Talley hit a shot in the paint to retake the lead, and Smyth added a free throw to give MBU a two point lead. However, the Bulldogs scored the next six points, giving them a four point lead that they would not look back on.
Benedictine-Springfield extended its lead to seven points by the halftime break, and led 40-33. The Bulldogs shot an impressive 52 percent from the floor, while the Spartans shot 44 percent from the field.
Kennedy Smith scored six straight points to open up the second half, sparking a 10-2 run by the Spartans.
Missouri Baptist held a 57-51 lead with 10:15 left in the game, but the Bulldogs worked the game back to a tie after scoring the next six points.
With the score knotted at 57-57, the Spartans dominated the final 7:11 of the game. Missouri Baptist outscored the Bulldogs 24-3 during the final stretch, with Kristyne Smyth netting ten of those points.
The Spartan defense forced the Bulldogs to a dismal 20 percent shooting from the floor in the second half, while the Spartan offense made 19-of-36 (53%) of the shots from the floor in the half.
Head Coach Iris Dixon and the Spartans will take to the road once again and play No. 2 Freed-Hardeman on February 13. The Lady Lions are a perfect 23-0 on the season.
