ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Winners of four of its last five games, Missouri Baptist Women's Basketball entered Thursday night's road battle with Stephens (Mo.) looking to build on its success over the past month. Though the team received clutch play from a hot-shooting Riley Reddin, the Spartans fell for just the second time in the New Year, 63-60.

Missouri Baptist (7-10, 6-7 AMC) was trying to move over .500 in American Midwest Conference play for the first time since November 17, but the Stars put together a solid second-half of basketball to deny the Spartans a big road victory.

Missouri Baptist led at the half, thanks in large part to the hot perimeter shooting of Reddin. The senior point guard went 3-3 from beyond the arc in the first half as she led her team to outscore the Stars 20-10 in the second quarter. It was the second-half, however, that the home team took the momentum.

Missouri Baptist traveled down two big players as both Briya Wilborn and Amanda Rowden nursed injuries. Reddin, along with Jessica Moore stepped-up in their stead. Reddin crushed a previous career-high of five points with an impressive 19 on the night while Moore followed with nine points off the bench. Both finished with three steals.

The Stars put together two big quarters of basketball after the break and secured the win. Missouri Baptist was outscored 35-28 in the final half of basketball as the team from Columbia, Mo., held-on for its fourth AMC win of the season.

Chalee Britt led the Stars with 19 points on the night as Stephens boasted three players in double digits. Kendahl Adams and Makenzie Jemes both followed with 11 points a piece.

The Spartans will now have a rare Saturday bye week before hosting the NAIA No. 1-ranked Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) on Monday in a make-up game from Saturday, January 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.