HENDERSON, Tenn. – In the third meeting of the season, the seventh-seeded Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team delivered its best performance yet against the No. 2 seeded Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions on Thursday, but ultimately fell 67-53 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Quarterfinals.
 
The loss officially marks the end of the 2019-20 season for the young, but talented group. Introducing eight newcomers (6 freshmen, 2 transfers) in 2019, the Spartans improved their win total by four games in Samuel Pearson's second year as head coach finishing with an overall record of 12-17 and a .500 mark in the AMC (12-12).
 
Both teams struggled offensively in Thursday's matchup as MBU shot 27% from the field (18-of-65) and beyond-the-arc (6-of-22), while Freed-Hardeman's numbers were slightly better at 37.9% from the floor (22-of-58) and 31.8% from long range (7-of-22).
 
AMC Player of the Year candidate and surefire NAIA All-American Haylee Croom once again got the best of the Spartans. The senior post player went for 24 points, 8 boards and 4 assists to help the Lady Lions advanced to the AMC Semifinals where they will meet No. 3 seed Columbia College on Saturday.
 
Similar to the Feb. 22 meeting in Henderson, Missouri Baptist led following the first period before hitting a wall in the second. FHU took the lead for good at the 8:34 mark off an Alyssa Lemay 3-pointer and went into halftime ahead 33-25.
 
The Lady Lions gradually increased their lead in the second half to as much as 20, which was just enough to keep the Spartans at bay and to avoid a quarterfinal upset.
 
For MBU on Thursday, a large chunk of the scoring came from its starters, who combined for 42 of the 53 points. Sophomore guard Tionne Taylor paved the way offensively with 19 points. Freshman forward Kaylynn Hayden scored in double-digits for the third time in four tries and also pulled down a team-best 8 rebounds. And freshman Taylor Norris rounded out the notable performances with 9 points and 5 rebounds.
 
Prior to the start of Thursday's game, 12 Spartans were recognized as a part of the AMC Academic All-Conference Team, while senior Jordan Wyatt was named the Champions of Character award recipient.