During the break, Maryann Mitts, Lady Lions head basketball coach, announced that Krystle Jones, senior reserve guard, was dismissed from the team for a violation of team standards.

Jones played in the first 14 games of this season and averaged 2.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game. Her career at Missouri Southern includes an average 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 26.8 minutes in four years.

Jones declined to comment concerning the reasons for her dismissal from the team.

Jones did say she was “upset, because I played basketball there for four years.”

Mitts said the incidents leading up to the dismissal were “documented, things were justified, chances were given, and it was to the point where a change had to occur and there was no change.”

“There are certain things that are expected from a woman’s basketball player who plays at Southern, and I think that Krystle had extended her opportunity on and off the floor in a way that was not acceptable,” Mitts said.

“It is our philosophy that it’s not difficult to be a good person, good student and good player. If you choose to do all three of those things, it’s a marriage.”

Mitts said if a person chose not to do one of the three then there is a “separation,” and if all three are not done, it becomes a “divorce.”

Mitts said she is a “very forgiving person and a very big proponent of second chances.”

“But at some point, you have to draw a line, to where you don’t feel taken advantage of,” she said.

“And when you start to feel taken advantage of, as anyone would, you have to act.”

Mitts said during a second chance, she looks for a change or an effort to change.

If there is an effort to change, then she is “all support,” but if she does not see the effort to change, then she has “a problem.”

Mitts said she felt like Jones was not “understanding the expectations we had of not only her, but of everyone in this program.”

Despite the loss of Jones the Lady Lions stand at a 9-8 record.

The team hopes to place fifth in the conference.