Coming off of a buzzer-beating win two weeks ago against Northwest Missouri, the Lions looked to build off of the road win for the remainder of the season. 

Last week the Lions took on the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State University. The Lions played Nebraska Kearney on Thursday inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Entering play the Lions were in the 10^th spot in the MIAA while the Lopers were a couple spots ahead in the 8^th spot.

The Lions look to finish the season on a high note behind senior leader, Chelsea Henry, who is currently averaging 16 points per game, and 5 rebounds.

The Lions played Nebraska-Kearney in a close game. The game started slowly for both teams. The score was only 2-2 after 3 minutes of play in the first quarter. The Lopers then made a run to make the score 7-2 before the Lions responded. Going into the second quarter the score was 11-8. The second quarter was a great quarter of play for both teams, with both teams playing very good defense. The Lions got hot and ended up being ahead 15-11 half way through the second quarter. A free throw from grad transfer Laure Assena, and a jump shot from sophomore Brooke Stauffer helped give the Lions a 7-0 run. The Lopers went up by one with three minutes to go in the first half but a layup from junior Jordan Schoenberger, put the Lions back on top. With a minute left, Schoenberger converted another layup to put the Lions up by 3. The Lopers would answer once again, with a three-pointer before the half to tie the game at 21.

Coming out of the half the Lions went on a 7-2 run and led 28-23. Henry hit a jumper midway through the third quarter to make the score 30-25. Following that up, Layne Skiles hit a three and the Lions made a run, making the lead 37-28 at the end of three quarters. Southern had a big lead, but Nebraska Kearney went on an 18-2 run to take the lead with two minutes remaining. The Lions were down by five but a three-point play from Assena cut the lead to two with the score being 46-44. The Lopers would score and put the Lions down 4, forcing them to foul. UNK would make both free throws to go up 50-44. That would also be the final score as the Lions fell by 6. (QUOTE)

This past Saturday the Lions took on the no. 1 team in the MIAA, Fort Hays State University. The Tigers got hot early and jumped out to an 8-0 run in the first quarter, but the Lions would battle back and end the first quarter down by five with the score being 13-8. The second quarter the Tigers came out shooting the ball very well and went up nine before the half.

Although the Lions’ bench scored 27 points and were able to cut the lead to seven multiple times in the third quarter the Tigers ended up beginning to run away with the game. Fort Hays led as much as 20 in the fourth quarter.

Lions would end up falling to the Tigers 72-57. The Lions were led by junior Chasidee Owens who poured in 20 points while shooting 8-10 from the field.

The Lions will prepare for a rivalry game against Pittsburg State next week. The first matchup is in Pittsburgh, KS on Tuesday at 1:30 pm.  (QUOTE)