ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist Women's Basketball shot just 31 percent from the floor on Tuesday evening in a season-opening 82-69 loss to NAIA D-II College of the Ozarks on the road in Point Lookout, Mo.

Missouri Baptist (0-1) struggled to get the offense going in the first quarter as College of the Ozarks found its rhythm early. The Bobcats went on a 10-1 run to begin the game, a hole in which the Spartans were unable to dig its way out of.

Missouri Baptist shot 23 percent from the floor in the first quarter, but as the game progressed it was its solid free-throw shooting that kept them around. The Spartans, led by Taylor Klingelhoefer and Kennedy Smith at the line, shot just over 82 percent from the charity stripe in the game.

Turnovers plagued MBU throughout the contest. As a whole, the Spartans committed 23 turnovers, eight more than the Bobcats on the night. This difference allowed College of the Ozarks 29 points off turnovers as it cruised to its second win in 2015.

Jerica Hawkins led Missouri Baptist on the night. The senior recorded 20 points and three blocked shots in the contest, a new career high in both categories. Taylor Klingelhoefer checked-in with 16 points on the night and rounded-out the scorers in double digits for the Spartans.

On the positive side of the coin, the Missouri Baptist defense held one of the top NAIA D-II offenses to a low shooting percentage. The Bobcats managed just 40 percent from the floor, a team that was ranked No. 20 in NAIA D-II in that category a season ago.

The Spartans will continue a season-long road trip next Tuesday evening as the squad descends upon Marshall, Mo., to take on the Missouri Valley College Vikings. MBU will be on the road for its first five games of the year before heading home to face William Woods (Mo.) on December 3, 2015.