ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Coming off a big exhibition win over NCAA Division I Oral Roberts (Okla.) just two nights prior, the Lyon College Scots Women's Basketball Squad had all the momentum. On Thursday night at home, they used that extra jolt of energy to shoot 52 percent from the floor in a 64-52 win over Missouri Baptist.
Missouri Baptist (3-4, 2-2 AMC) outplayed the No. 14-ranked Scots in the second half, but struggled with ball possession for the entirety of the game. MBU surrendered the ball on 19 occasions on Thursday, which was the most telling statistic in the loss.
The Spartans scored on its first possession after the tip to take a 2-0 lead, and went back and forth with the Scots early. Down 7-6 with just over four minutes left in the first quarter, Lyon's Jamie Jackson knocked-down a bucket to make it 9-6 with 4:12 left. No team scored for the next 1:30 until Taylor Grigg knocked-down the three-pointer to extend the lead to 12-6.
Missouri Baptist trailed 19-12 entering the second quarter when a scoring drought played havoc with the team's comeback hopes. The Spartans were held scoreless for the opening 4:39 until Taylor Klingelhoefer's two free throws put the team on the board in the quarter. The Scots were hot from the outset and posted a 10-0 run to that point, which put MBU on its heels looking to stay within striking distance.
Though the Spartans exited halftime down 34-18, renewed energy sparked the team from St. Louis. As a whole in the second half, Missouri Baptist shot just under 58 percent from the floor.
The Scots looked hot at the beginning of the third quarter, but cooled after Elliot Taylor's bucket off the turnover to give her team a 41-20 advantage. The Spartans went on a 13-4 run from this point and pulled to within 12, thanks in large part to Jerica Hawkins. The senior from Decatur, Ill., posted eight of her 15 points on the night during that run as MBU had put itself back in the game heading toward the fourth quarter.
The final quarter of play, however, was an evenly-balanced chess match as the first half deficit proved to be too large.
Hawkins continues to lead the American Midwest Conference in scoring after another big night. The guard ranks first in Scoring per Game and Field Goal Percentage, and ranks second in Steals per Game and Rebounds per Game.
Kennedy Smith also finished in double digits for Missouri Baptist. The Columbia, Mo., native finished with 10 and has now posted double-digit scoring in two consecutive games.
Jamie Jackson led the Scots in Thursday's contest. The guard from Beebe, Ark., posted a season-high of 17 points.
Taylor Gaedtke followed-suit with 16 points, also a season-high, and rounded-out the double-digit scoring for Lyon on the night.
Missouri Baptist will remain on the road and have a chance to get back over .500 in conference play on Saturday as the team will head to Conway, Ark., to take-on Central Baptist. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
