ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Baptist University women's lacrosse team defeated (RV) Ottawa University 25-16 in the last game of their regular season on Wednesday (April 10), earning them a bye to the Heart of America Conference Semifinal game. 

Lydia Cornett scored 11 goals and recorded six assists for 17 points on the day, setting a program record for most points recorded in a single game at Missouri Baptist. 

Despite the final score, Ottawa did not give MBU an easy game. They played closely with Missouri Baptist until the end of the third quarter. 

Olivia Julian, who recorded 150 career points this week, scored the first goal of the contest. KJ Bonenberger and Lydia Cornett (assisted by Marissa Oldham) followed with a goal each, bringing the score to 3-0 with 9:40 on the clock. 

OU responded with two goals, but Mack Miller scored off an assist from Cornett to make for a two goal lead for the Spartans. The duo performed the same routine just about a minute later.

Then, Kiersten Lang put another point on the board, assisted by Cornett. The Spartan celebration was short lived because the Braves scored three goals before the end of the quarter. 

6-5 in MBU's favor going into the second period, OU tied the game within the first few minutes. Not much later, they scored again, taking the lead. 

MBU's Marisssa Oldham (assisted by Lilly Clepper) and Mack Miller came in clutch for the Spartans, scoring two more goals to bring the score to 8-7 in Missouri Baptist's favor with 9:22 on the clock. 

Ottawa would not quit, scoring another to tie the game soon after Miller's. Bonenberger scored a goal for the Spartans, followed by Cornett (assisted by Oldham), to take the two-goal lead. 

Tensions were high going into the second half, with the bye to the Heart semifinals on the line. Jullian and Alexis Taylor made a statement at the beginning go the third quarter, scoring two quick goals to bring the score to 12-8.

OU snuck in another goal, but the Spartans kept their foot on the gas. Cornett ripped the ball into the net off two free position attempts. Then, she scored off an assist from Miller. 

Taylor scored another, assisted by Cornett, making the score 16-9. Ottawa put one on the board after Taylor, but Cornett squashed their hopes of catching up to the Spartans with another free position goal. 

Ottawa kept trying to creep back into the game, but MBU stayed relentless. They scored after Cornett, but she was able to record another goal, assisted by Oldham just over a minute later. 

After that, Delaney Pechnik scored two electric goals in a row, one of them assisted by Cornett. 

Sitting pretty at 21-11 going into the fourth quarter, MBU continued to press offensively. Cornett and Oldham, working well together, recorded yet another goal and assist. The goal was scored by Cornett, and Oldham was awarded with the assist. 

OU scored soon after, but Cornett put the 22nd point on the board for MBU, assisted by Miller. 

Ottawa scored just two more times before the end of the match. The rest of Missouri Baptist's goals were scored in the following order:

• Cornett 
• Cornett
• Pechnik (assisted by Cornett)

Team Stats Highlights: 
Shots / MBU - 42, OU - 30
Clears / MBU - 9-10, OU - 8-13
Draw controls / MBU - 29, OU - 16

Defensive Highlights:
Bonenberger - two ground balls, two caused turn overs 
Cornett - two ground balls, two CTOs, 13 DCs
Julian - one GB, two CTOs, six DCs

MBU will play again in the semifinal game of the Heart of America Conference Tournament on Wednesday (April 16) at home.