JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Lions led from start to finish, handing Central Missouri Jennies basketball an 78-59 loss inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in a MIAA game played Thursday evening, Feb. 27.
The Jennies (16-12, 8-10 MIAA) are slated to wrap up the regular season with a contest at No. 10-ranked Pittsburg State (25-3, 17-1 MIAA) Saturday afternoon, March 1, at 1:30 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
The Lions (18-12, 10-8 MIAA) jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back en route to the victory.
Allie Clevenger scored 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and a 2-of-2 performance at the free-throw line while
Reese Schaaf posted 13 points,
Cierra Smith added 11 points, and
Taylor Weishaar snagged seven rebounds, pacing Central Missouri.
The Jennies shot just 33 percent from the field (19-of-57) and were 6-of-16 from three-point range for 38 percent. UCM went 15-of-20 at the free-throw line for 75 percent.
Missouri Southern controlled the glass, outrebounding Central Missouri, 47-28, and outscored the Jennies in the paint, 34-16. The Lions shot 49 percent from the floor (33-of-67) and were 8-of-23 from three-point range for 35 percent.
Ryan Franklin had 23 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lions.
