Ateba's Double-Double lifts Lions over Western, 77-71

Joplin, Mo. - Vincent Ateba scored 20 and pulled down 10 and the Missouri Southern Lions defeated Missouri Western, 77-71 tonight in front of more than 1,500 fans a the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.

Southern (8-3, 2-0 MIAA) moves into a first-place tie atop the MIAA after Southwest Baptist defeated Emporia State at home tonight.

The Lions led 4-3 at the 17:24 mark of the first half after a jumper from Octavius Hawkins, but a layup from the Griffons' (6-4, 1-1 MIAA) Ken Goodwin gave Western the lead and they would hold it the entire half, going into the locker room up 35-34.

Southern tied the game at 37 apiece on a free throw from TJ Britton, but wouldn't take the lead until 9:18 mark of the second half when a pair of Tony Webb free-throws put the Lions up 53-51. The lead grew to as much as eight after an alley oop dunk from Webb to Britton. The two would hook up for another spectacular play just a minute and a half later as the Lions led for the final nine mutes of the game.

Ateba went 7-14 from the field and 6-9 from the free throw line for 20 points and ten rebounds. Hawkins and Webb added 18 and 16, respectively, while Britton scored 13 and pulled down 12 rebounds.

The Griffons shot 48 percent from the field, but Southern forced 28 Western turnovers and stole the ball 12 times, scoring 34 points off of miscues.

Southern now sits atop the MIAA in a tie for first place with Southwest Baptist. The Lions will now stay at home and play host to Pittsburg State on Wednesday, January 9 at 7:30 pm.

No. 16 Lions drop MIAA home opener to Missouri Western, 74-72

Joplin, Mo. - The No. 16-ranked Missouri Southern Lions lost a see-saw affair to the Missouri Western Griffons, 74-72 in their MIAA home opener Saturday night (Jan. 5) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

The game featured 18 lead changes, including 12 in the deciding second half. With the game tied 57-57, the Griffons (6-4, 1-1 MIAA) took the lead for good on a layup from Chemia Woods with 8:31 remaining.

A pair of threes from Jill Johnson and Tierra Ford helped the Griffons build the advantage to 71-62 when the Lions (9-2, 0-2 MIAA) began making their surge.

The Lions out-scored Western 8-0 over the next 3:25 behind a jumper and a trey from Ela Zawadka. One free throw from Fatai Hala'Api'Api brought Southern to within 71-70 with 1:34 left in the game.

Yanique Javois then split a pair of free throws for the Griffons, but the Lions failed to score on the offensive end and two free throws from Ford sealed the victory for Western.

Things started well for Southern as Zawadka and Danielle DeVader each connected from long-distance as the Lions jumped out to an 11-4 lead just 4:44 into the contest.

Fatai then scored the next seven Lion points over the next 3:09 to stretch the lead to 18-9 with 12:07 left in the first half.

MWSU answered with a 9-0 run and tied the score on a jumper from Colleen Schnieder at 18-18.

Ford gave the Griffons their first lead since the 19:25 mark on a three-pointer that made it 21-20 with 6:14 remaining in the opening half.

The Lions regained the lead at 27-26 on a trey from Zawadka but Javois answered with a three of her own to put Western back on top and the Griffons went on to lead 33-30 at the half.

Fatai scored 26, one off her career-high, to lead the Lions. Fatai also tied for the team-lead with nine rebounds. Tynesha Pierce recorded nine boards and Zawadka reached double-figures for Southern with 14. Zawakda hit 5-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-6 from three-point distance.

Javois led the Griffons with 25 on 9-of-18 shooting. Johnson scored 19 and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Western.

The Lions will next host Pittsburg State on Wednesday night (Jan. 9). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. The Lions swept the series last year and have won four straight overall.