ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Jerica Hawkins proved once again that she is at the beginning of a special season. The senior put together another big performance on both offense and under the hoop as she led Missouri Baptist Women's Basketball to a big 74-62 win over Stephens College on Thursday.
Missouri Baptist (2-2, 1-0 AMC) got the conference season started on the right foot after a sluggish start in the opening minutes. The Stars grabbed the early lead, but thanks to a late first quarter push, MBU took control to end the opening 10 minutes up 19-15.
The Spartans led by as many as eight in the second quarter before the Stars crept back into the lead. Stephens College put together a 10-1 run, capped-off by a three-pointer by Katie Lamkie, to give the home team a 24-23 lead.
MBU finished the half on top, however, thanks to a final push led by Kennedy Smith. The Columbia, Mo., native posted four of the final eight Spartan points to close-out the second quarter up 33-31.
Missouri Baptist's offense turned it on in the second half. The Spartans shot 50 percent in the final 20 minutes of play and caused 13 turnovers on the way to its first American Midwest Conference win of the year.
Jerica Hawkins led the team with 15 points and 11 rebounds, her second double-double of the year. Taylor Klingelhoefer posted 15 points of her own while Danna Jenkins notched 11, a season high for the Aurora, Colo., native.
As a team, the Spartans went 0-6 from three-point range, which was the fewest threes MBU has attempted thus far. Under the boards, however, Missouri Baptist out-rebounded the Stars 45-38. Those 45 rebounds are a season high in 2015-16.
Bailey Taylor led the Stephens College attack on the night. The freshman from Joplin, Mo., tied a career-high with 17 points. It was her second-consecutive 17-point performance of the season.
Senior Dana Heggemann was equally impressive. The Warrenton, Mo., native recorded her first double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Missouri Baptist will now gear-up for a tough road game next Tuesday against Southwest Baptist. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Bolivar, Mo.
