ST. LOUIS – Wrapping up the first half of its American Midwest Conference schedule, the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team was dealt a 28-point loss at home by No. 9-ranked Freed-Hardeman University on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Lions snapped a rare two-game losing streak defeating the Spartans on their home court, 79-51.
 
In addition to a season low in scoring, MBU suffered its worst defeat of the season while moving to 4-11, 4-7 AMC. The visitors from Henderson, Tenn. improved to 11-5 overall and 7-2 in conference.
 
In the opening minutes, it appeared that the Spartans and Freed-Hardeman were in for an old-fashioned shootout. MBU matched the Lady Lions point for point and took a 6-4 lead over the Top-10 team. However, the Spartans went cold and FHU went on a 14-2 run including 12 unanswered points.
 
The biggest thorn in the MoBap's side was 2019 NAIA First-Team All-American and AMC Defensive Player of the Year Haylee Croom. The Lady Lions' star player was well on the way to surpassing her season scoring average of 15.8 ppg in the first quarter alone. Croom went 4-for-6 from the field and knocked down three free throws for 11 first-quarter points.
 
The second quarter had a similar outcome as Croom and fellow forward Alyssa LeMay controlled the paint. The two combined for 32 of FHU's 46 points in the first half and together pulled down 10 boards. At halftime, the Lady Lions not only led 46-21, but also dominated the glass holding a 24-11 advantage over the Spartans.
 
Despite playing the Lady Lions nearly even in the second half, the 25-point hole at halftime was too much for Missouri Baptist to overcome. In fact, No. 9 Freed-Hardeman held a 35-point lead with seven minutes remaining before the Spartans found their groove.
 
One particular Spartan who found her groove in the second half was guard Rose Wassef. The Lakeland, Fla. junior scored all 11 of her points in the second half to go along with 3 rebounds and a team-high 3 steals. It marks the third straight game that Wassef has reached double digits.
 
For the eighth time this season, sophomore Tionne Taylor paced the Spartans offensively. The McKendree University transfer slashed and dashed into the paint to finish with 15 points (5-of-12 FG, 5-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
 
As a team, the Spartans shot below their season average (.333), and were even worse from 3-point range going 2-for-17 (.118) on the afternoon.
 
Freed-Hardeman finished the game with a pair of players recording double-doubles. Somewhat quiet in the second, Haylee Croom finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Caroline Chambers came off the bench to register 15 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Spartans will have a break in their home-heavy schedule as they have a bye on Thursday and return to action at Hannibal-LaGrange on Saturday, January 18.