ST. LOUIS – MBU Women's Basketball (6-9, 3-2 AMC) broke a four-game skid on Tuesday night, knocking off Williams Baptist (9-7, 3-2 AMC) by a score of 72-62. After trailing by seven at halftime, the Spartans used a big third quarter to flip the game in their favor.
 
For two teams who went to three overtimes when they met in the SRC last season, there was once again little to separate the sides early on Tuesday night. MBU had a brief five-point in the first quarter while Williams Baptist took a six-point edge for a moment in the second. The Spartans had a 31-30 lead with 2:38 to go in the halftime before the Eagles closed the period on a 9-1 run and they went into intermission up 39-32.
 
Head Coach Sam Pearson's halftime adjustments paid off after the break. Two early threes from Rose Wassef sent the Spartans off and running. Another deep ball, this one from Lauren Ebert, returned the lead to the home side for the first time since the first quarter. A 15-3 run was later capped off by a layup from Kayleigh Winch, with an assist credited to Ebert.
 
The Spartans would ultimately win the quarter 22-9, turning the seven-point halftime deficit into a six-point lead.
 
Sensing they had the Eagles on the ropes, the Spartans went for the knockout punch in the fourth quarter. And they delivered with an 11-2 run early in the first four minutes. The gap grew to 67-50 and with leading scorer Taylor Freeman in foul trouble, Williams Baptist was down for the count. The Spartans closed out the final five minutes by draining 8-9 from the free-throw line to solidify a 10-point victory.
 
"It feels good to get back in the W column," noted Pearson afterwards. "We're gonna enjoy this one but it's a quick turnaround to Thursday and then again on Saturday. Three game week… let's see if we can keep this thing rolling."
 
The Spartans were led in scoring by junior center Alexis Allstun. The Jackson, Mo. was 8-12 from the field for 16 points. She also registered a season-high four blocks to go along with six rebounds.
 
After missing the last four games, senior Jalexis Russell was welcomed back to the lineup with open arms.  The transfer from Murray State played 30 minutes in her return, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds. Russell was also clutch from the FT line, going a perfect 8-8.
 
"Jalexis is a heck of a talent," Pearson noted. "She plays the 1-5 for us and we've missed her these last four games. We finally have her healthy and I think our best basketball is ahead of us."
 
Eight of the 10 Spartans who saw minutes on Tuesday scored at least six points. Notable stat lines included Lauren Ebert (6 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds), Tionne Taylor (7 points, 6 rebounds), and Kayleigh Winch (6 points, 4 rebounds).
 
The difficult schedule eluded to by Pearson by continues Thursday against the UHSP Eutectics (11-6, 3-2 AMC), led by the NAIA's leading scorer Grace Beyer (33.1 ppg). The Spartans return home Saturday for a meeting with Central Baptist College (9-5, 2-3 AMC).