ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist looked to play spoiler from the jump on Tuesday evening, but when shooting cooled, was unable to recover. After taking just a two-point deficit into halftime against a highly-ranked and tough College of the Ozarks (Mo.) squad, the Spartans struggled to keep pace and dropped its first game of 2016, 74-61.

Missouri Baptist (1-1) put together a big effort at the beginning and led 7-0 thanks to the tenacious play of Amanda Scott. The Lake St. Louis, Mo., native recorded seven points and six rebounds in the first 10 minutes, but the Bobcats keyed-in on the forward and took the weapon away from the Spartans for the remainder of the night.

The Bobcats posted just 30 points in the first half as the visitors struggled to score. After halftime, however, things turned in their favor. College of the Ozarks came out firing on all cylinders with a 25-spot in the third quarter and pulled away from the Spartans for good.

Missouri Baptist was led by Briya Wilborn who finished her night with 15 points, five rebounds and two steals. Scott finished with nine points and eight rebounds while Kennedy Smith finished one board shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Spartans held the hot Bobcats to just a shade over 30 percent from the floor in the first half, but it was the second that did Missouri Baptist in. College of the Ozarks bounced back with a 51 percent shooting mark in the final 20 minutes.

The Spartans will look to rebound in its first conference game of 2016 on Thursday when the Stephens College Stars come to town. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.