The Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic featured some of the first home matchups women’s basketball schedule this season. 

The Lions played Newman University on Nov. 25, a game Head Coach MaryAnn Mitts said was a great game for the team, except for eight minutes in the second half where the game seemed to get away from the Lions. 

“The difference in the game was not stepping up and able to stop the other team guard Satoria Bell from scoring 37 points,” Mitts said.  

Lions guard Tatianna Washington led the team with 16 points, and grabbed five rebounds. 

Junior Kelby Fritz contributed 13 points, while Erin Rice had eight points with five rebounds to round out the top three scorers for the Lions.  

Newman went on to capture the victory by a score of 67-50.  The Lions hosted Ark.-Fort Smith the next day to end the Pizza Hut/Fairfield inn classic. Freshman Haley Weathers stole the show as she recorded a team, and career high, in points as she put up 23 points to lift the Southern past the Lady Lions of UAFS 74-68. 

“I was excited for Haley, she had around 25 family and friends at the game for her and she put on a good show for them,” Mitts said.

“It is hard as a freshman to come in and produce the way she has, she has great attitude, hard working on and off the court, I think this performance is only a springboard of how successful she will be in the future,” Mitts said.

Washington was the team’s second highest scorer with 19 points, and added six rebounds, while Erin Rice put up 10 points along with five rebounds. The Lions were able to shoot 73 percent from the free-throw line, and 45 percent from long-range. 

Rice and Washington were named to the All-Tournament team.

The Lions ended their fifth straight home game on Wednesday as they hosted Truman State University, which was the first game in conference play this season. 

Southern was able to gain a small halftime lead on the bulldogs, but it wouldn’t hold up for the second half as TSU managed to pull away and held on for a 63-55 road victory. With the loss, the Lions fall to 4-3 and 0-1 in MIAA play.

“This team has great potential, but it will be a process to have great team chemistry, it will involve having maturity from every player, communication, and time.” Mitts said

 The Lions next game will be tomorrow as they travel to Warrensburg to play UCM.