In front of a home crowd at Leggett and Platt Athletic Center, the Missouri Southern women’s basketball team tipped-off conference play with a 76-72 win over Neb.-Kearney.

Early in the first half turnovers and poor shot selection plagued the Lions. The Lions started the game off 0-5 from the field and didn’t score their first points until more than three minutes had passed.

The Lions didn’t have an answer for Loper’s forward Amarah Williams early in the first half. Williams scored 12 points on 5-8 shooting. The Lopers would jump out to a lead as big as 13 before the Lions went on a 21-12 run to claw their way back to within two at halftime.

Senior forward Dominique Mosley fueled the run for the Lions, scoring 11 despite a slow start.

The Lions kept their momentum going in the second half, tying the game up at 34 to start the half. Not long after tying it up, Lions forward Samantha Soyez hit a jump shot to put the Lions ahead for the first time of the night.

The game would go back and forth for the remainder of the night with several lead changes. Late in the game the Lions took a 72-67 lead that the Lopers were unable to overcome. The Lions won 76-72.

Mosley led the Lions in scoring with 22 points, as well as seven rebounds and four steals. Sophomore forward Sharese Jones scored 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to lead the Lions in rebounds.

The Lions move to 6-1 on the year. Tonight marked the Lions sixth win in a row. They will play Washburn at home on Saturday afternoon.