ST. LOUIS – The NAIA's top-ranked team and undefeated Freed-Hardeman University (14-0, 8-0 AMC) escaped Petty Sports & Recreation Complex Saturday with a 71-56 win after having to pull away from the Spartans late. Missouri Baptist University women's basketball had the reigning NAIA national champions out of rhythm and on their heels for a large portion of the game holding them 11 points under their season scoring average.
 
MBU logged its second-best outing against the perennial powerhouse as the Lady Lions came into Saturday's game with an average margin of victory of 27 points. Since FHU joined the conference in 2014, the Henderson, Tenn. team is now 12-0 in the series.
 
One way that the Spartans kept the game close on Saturday was by quieting down the Lady Lions' high-octane offense in the first half. The Spartan defense corralled the AMC's leading scorer Sandrea Sylman in the first half, holding her to five points and just one made field goal (1-for-9 from the floor).
 
In the second quarter, Freed-Hardeman shot a paltry 14.2 percent (2-of-14), but the Spartans weren't able to take full advantage of the poor shooting as they turned the ball over 17 times in the first half alone. An Achilles' Heel for the team this year, the Spartans totaled 26 turnovers in the game.
 
Despite the mistakes, the Spartans trailed the nation's No. 1 team by just three at halftime at 27-24. The Lady Lions' 27 points was the second fewest that the Spartans have allowed in the first half this season.
 
Out of the break, MoBap got a 3-point play the hard way with a Le'Ondra Wilson layup and free-throw on the and-1 opportunity. That was the closest the Spartans would get as the Lady Lions followed that up with a 9-2 run to give themselves a bit of a cushion.
 
Senior transfer Kadesha Cooper had a gutsy performance coming off the bench to score a team-high 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Cooper also pulled down six boards in 24 minutes of action.
 
Joining Cooper in double digits was Megan Fassino and fellow senior Alissa Rowden, who registered 10 points and her seventh double-figure game of the year. Fassino tied her season high in scoring with 10 points and another season-high in rebounds with 6.
 
With the win, Freed-Hardeman extended its winning streak to 19 in a row with its last loss coming in the AMC Championship against Columbia College last March. With the loss, the Spartans are now 3-10 overall with a 2-7 mark in league play.
 
Up next for MBU is a trip down I-70 to No. 2-ranked Columbia College on Thursday (Jan. 10).