WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – On a quest to improve its positioning for the upcoming conference tournament, the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team was unable to get the job done Thursday night on the road despite holding a one-point halftime lead. Williams Baptist (18-8, 14-7 AMC) outscored the Spartans by 20 points in the second half on the way to a 74-55 victory.
For the second time in three games, Missouri Baptist (11-15, 11-11 AMC) got off to a quick start and maintained a slim one-point lead at halftime. At fourth-place William Woods, the Owls broke away late in the fourth quarter. On Thursday, the fifth-place Eagles gave the Spartans the most trouble in the third period.
After shooting 41 percent from the field in the first half, MoBap hit a brick wall especially in the fourth quarter in which the Spartans converted on just four of their 23 shot attempts (.173). On the flip side, the home team rallied and used a big quarter out of the break to distance itself from the Spartans. WBU hit on 64 percent of its shots in the third period and outscored Missouri Baptist, 27-15.
Typically garnering more production from the bench, MBU's starting lineup of
Tionne Taylor,
Kaylynn Hayden,
Taylor Norris,
Alexis Allstun and
Jordan Wyatt, made up 45 of the team's 55 points on the day.
Sophomore guard
Tionne Taylor reached double figures for the 19
th time this season leading the Spartans with 18 points. The transfer from McKendree University was 7-of-17 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range, while grabbing five boards.
Even though
Kaylynn Hayden got into foul trouble, the freshman forward was highly efficient in her 18 minutes of action notching 12 points, and tying season-bests in rebounds (7) and steals (3).
MBU's top post player
Alexis Allstun continues to make a strong case for AMC Freshman of the Year honors as she displays her versatility and athleticism on the both ends of the floor. The 6-1 freshman from Jackson, Mo. posted 7 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. It is the third time that the rim protector has recorded 5 blocks in a game.
The Spartans travel to Henderson, Tenn. on Saturday to take on No. 12-ranked Freed-Hardeman University, a team that's won 11 of their last 12 games.
