ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist women's basketball ended the 2021-22 campaign with a host of accomplishments. The Spartans broke a record for games won in conference, with 14 American Midwest Conference (AMC) victories during the season, had multiple players earn All-AMC nods, and finished the year on a 12-2 run as head coach Sam Pearson notched his 50th at the helm during the streak.
 
MBU still felt like it left too much on the table and came into the home opener Tuesday night hungry to prove last season's improvement was no fluke. The Spartans bounced College of the Ozarks (CofO) out of the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC with a 84-69 statement that saw 10 different MoBap players score.
 
MBU and CofO traded baskets early on before a Tionne Taylor layup four minutes in gave the Spartans the lead for good. Taylor continued where she left off from last February in a season good enough for NAIA All-America Honorable Mention honors. The Senior from O'Fallon notched 27 points, with 23 of those coming in the first half. Taylor also dished out four assists as well as getting seven steals to her name.
 
After a mini 11-3 run put MoBap up 20-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Bobcats got five quick points to get within three, but the offensive power of Taylor and the surrounding cast stretched and protected the advantage to go into the locker rooms ahead 39-32.
 
The third quarter is where MBU's newfound depth took hold, as 10 different Spartans saw action and eight recorded at least a point. Transfers Bryce Dowell and Deyana Dodd had 8 and 6 points in the frame, respectively, to back a big 29-point quarter from MBU that saw the Spartans ahead by 16 in a couple of instances.
 
The fourth quarter was a bit nervy after CofO managed to chop the home side's lead down to seven. Kelsie Williams, another Spartan newcomer, then took over. The Southern Illinois-Edwardsville transfer poured in 11 of the final 14 points that MBU ended the game with. Sandwiched in the middle was a dagger of a 3-pointer by way of senior Lauren Ebert that put things to bed.
 
The two sides were even in the crashing the glass department, with 26 being the final rebounding total for each. MBU flustered the Lady Bobcats with 18 steals, however, outdid CofO in the points off turnovers 31-14, and points on the break, 18-5. Efficiency reigned for the Spartans, and the 52.3 percent mark from the field showed that in the box score.
 
Other notable MBU performances included Dodd (12 points, two rebounds), Dowell (12 points, two rebounds), and Jalexis Russell (seven points, four rebounds, three assists).
 
Missouri Baptist will look to keep it rolling this weekend, traveling to Canton, Mo., for a pair of games as part of the Oak Hill Inn & Suites Classic. The Spartans will first face off with tournament hosts Culver-Stockton College on Friday, Nov. 4th at 7:00 pm.