Box Score | Season Stats

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The sixth-ranked Washburn Lady Blues dropped their first game of the season, a 70-65 defeat, to Missouri Southern on Saturday night in Lee Arena. The Lady Blues will look to get back on the winning track on Wednesday night at Pittsburg State.

The Lady Blues (13-1, 7-1 MIAA) jumped out to an early 15-3 lead behind some hot shooting, but it wouldn't last. The lead was 11 at 26-15 with just over eight minutes to play in the opening half and again with 4:27 to play, but Missouri Southern (9-5, 3-4 MIAA) closed the period on a 12-3 run and the lead was two, 35-33 at the break. Washburn shot 39 percent in the first half on 13-of-33 shooting, but struggled from the free throw line making just 2-of-7 attempts.

The Lions grabbed the lead early in the second half only to see the Lady Blues regain the lead and push it to five at 41-36 with 16:48 to play in the game. WU was able to push the lead to as many as seven at 58-51 with 6:54 to play, but a 19-7 run by the Lions to end the game doomed the Lady Blues. Washburn struggled down the stretch making just 2-of-11 from the field over the final 6:54.

WU shot just 36 percent, 24-of-67, for the game and made just 9-of-35 from behind the arc. The Lady Blues were ice cold from the charity stripe as well connecting on just 8-of-20 attempts for a season-low 40 percent. The Lions shot 45 percent, 22-of-49, from the field and made 23-of-31 from the foul line for 74 percent.

Rose Hammond played one of her all-around best games of the season, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds, five steals and five assists to just one turnover to lead Washburn. Amanda Fessenden finished with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three-point range.

Jasmine Lovejoy led the Lions with 23 points and 17 rebounds, while Jolea Apon and LaTice Jones added 11 each. MSSU also out-rebounded the Lady Blues 43-38.