ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University Women's Basketball posted its largest margin of victory thus far in 2020-21 defeating Stephens College 97-47 in the team's regular-season finale on Saturday. The Spartans put on a clinic for Senior Day registering season bests in field goal pct. (.563), steals (15) and assists (31) with the latter tying a program record for most assists in a single game.
 
MBU has made a strong argument for being one of the hottest teams, if not the hottest, entering next week's American Midwest Conference (AMC) Tournament. Since losing back-to-back games in close fashion to then-No. 22 Columbia and then-No. 23 Lyon at the start of January, Missouri Baptist has rattled off two separate six-game winning streaks and have won 12 of their last 13 contests. The only setback for the Spartans was a 110-107 loss in triple OT to Williams Baptist.
 
With Saturday's win, the Spartans moved to 16-5 overall and 12-3 in the AMC. Based off of records and statistics dating back to 2003-04, this year's team is currently on pace to set new program records for highest winning percentage (.757), fewest losses (8), rebounds per game (42.0 rpg) and assists (15.5 rpg) and has guaranteed a share of the record for most AMC wins in a season with 12.
 
Missouri Baptist was virtually unstoppable during the first quarter. There was a brief moment in the opening minutes that Stephens knocked down its shots to keep the Spartans honest, however, the rest was history. MoBap went on two separate 13-0 runs in the quarter and scored a season-best 34 points in the first 10 minutes of the game. One of the top performers during the offensive fireworks was sophomore Grace Burrows, who hit three consecutive 3s and was 4-for-5 from the field with 11 points. The Spartans shot lights out converting on 13 of their 17 field goal attempts (.765) and were 5-of-8 (.625) from 3-point land.
 
Although the Stars (1-12, 1-12 AMC) couldn't get anything going offensively, they did manage to slow down MBU for at least one quarter as the Spartans only outscored the visitors 13-10 in the second.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, Missouri Baptist nearly replicated its performance from the first quarter – offensively and defensively – shooting 70.5% from the field (12-of-17) and limiting Stephens to just 10 points in the third. Outscoring the Stars, 29-10, the margin ballooned to 43 points as the Spartans entered the final period with a 76-33 lead.
 
The fourth quarter was the "Rose Wassef Show" as the senior guard went off for 15 of her career-high 20 points in the period. It was a fitting way for the senior to finish what could be her final regular-season game in dominant fashion. Wassef finished the day with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting (4-of-10 from three), 4 rebounds and 5 assists without a turnover.
 
Also joining Wassef in the starting lineup on Saturday were Grace Burrows and the three others recognized during Senior Day – Joelle Atkins, Caroline Rogers, and Kim Shaw. All four seniors were able to log at least one basket and combined for 35 points, 18 points and 10 assists on the afternoon. Atkins had herself a routine day at the office with 4 points and a game-highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (2). Shaw finished the game with 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Caroline Rogers was 1-for-1 from behind the arc with 3 points prior to an early exit from the game with an injury.

Other notable performances included Alexis Allstun, who was 6-of-7 from the field with 15 points and 3 rebounds in 10 minutes of action, guards Taylor Norris, Tionne Taylor and Lauren Ebert, who combined for 22 points (10-of-16), 11 assists and 7 steals off the bench, and Kamryn Mack, who was nearing double-double territory with 10 points, a career-high 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
 
Finishing the regular season with one of the top-four winning percentages in AMC play, MBU has secured a top-four seed and therefore will host an AMC Quarterfinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. At this time, the Spartans' opponent is to be determined.