Late Missouri Southern rally costs Jennies 64-62

           For 35 minutes Central Missouri State was in control of the game. After that it was all Missouri Southern, as they ended the game on a 17-9 run to grab a 64-62 victory in Warrensburg.

            The opening 10 minutes went back-and-forth as the Jennies held onto a slim 20-19 lead heading into the second media timeout. The Jens would extend the lead to 28-22, courtesy of an 8-3 run. Lindsey Maple scored the last five points of the first half to send the Jennies into the locker room with a 33-30 advantage Melissa Richardson led CMSU with 10 points and four assists in the first stanza.

           The Jens controlled most of the second half and held a 53-47 lead with under five minutes to go. Southern scored eight straight points and took the lead for good, 55-53, on a deep three by Marina Caran. MSSU then connected on back-to-back lay-ups stretching its lead to five. Tiffany Vincent scored on a three point play to cut the lead to 59-57 and the Jens forced a steal and had a chance to tie the game, but gave the ball right back to the Lions. After Southern’s Robin Kantin split two free throws, Maple hit a lay-up pulling the Jennies within one. After a pair of free throws by MSSU’s Nicole Greninger, Kara Rewerts game-tying three pointer was off and Kantin again went to the line splitting a pair. Maple nailed her fourth trey of the game to trim the lead to 63-62, but it was too late as Dacie Reutlinger went to the line and made the first of two tosses to seal the game 64-62.

           Maple led four Jennies in double figures with 16 points while Vincent added 14, connecting on 6-of-9 shots. After a strong start, Richardson finished with 13 with Rewerts contributing 10 points Vincent led the Jens in boards with seven, while Anna Rorvig had six assists to pace CMSU.

           Greninger led the Lions with 16 points while Reutlinger and Kantin each added 15.