ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] It was a great start for Missouri Baptist Women's Basketball, but a strong push by Harris Stowe (Mo.) in the closing minutes told the story. The Hornets put together a 6-0 run nearly midway through the fourth quarter and the Spartans were unable to recover in a 58-55 loss on Saturday at home.
Missouri Baptist (10-15, 9-13 AMC) played solid basketball in the opening quarter and caught the Hornets a bit flat footed. After digging an early three-point hole, Missouri Baptist recovered to the tune of a 9-0 run to give themselves a 14-9 lead. Though the Hornets climbed back, the Spartans entered the second quarter up 16-14.
Harris-Stowe responded in the second quarter. Eight lead changes occurred in the second ten minutes as Maronda Evans continued to lead the way for the Hornets. The junior from Chicago, Ill., posted seven points in both the first and second quarters.
The final two minutes of the half were all Harris-Stowe. The Hornets outscored the Spartans 8-3 in that time span to take a 35-30 lead.
Missouri Baptist came out hot after the break, as they have done for much of the year. The Spartans put-up 16 third quarter points and took a 46-44 advantage into the final quarter of play.
Unlike the first meeting between the two teams, Jerica Hawkins played all 40 minutes on Saturday and looked unstoppable at points. The guard finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, but also gave-up 10 turnovers.
Down the stretch of the fourth quarter, the Spartans led 50-49 with 6:21 left, but a bucket off the turnover by Kalilah Morrow put the Hornets up for good. Missouri Baptist did end the game with a chance to tie it, but Morgan Settle's attempted shot was well short.
The loss dropped the Spartans to ninth in the AMC and a full game below Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) for the final American Midwest Conference Tournament spot.
In addition to Hawkins' double-double, Morgan Settle got one of her own. The senior led Missouri Baptist in scoring with 16 and pulled-down 10 boards.
Angela Randall netted 16 points for the Hornets, and though held scoreless in the second half, Evans finished second with 14.
Missouri Baptist will complete its regular season next week with two home games against Williams Baptist (Ark.) and nationally-ranked Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) on Thursday and Saturday respectively. Game time on Thursday is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.
