Box Score | Season Stats

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The eighth-ranked Lady Blues built a big first half lead then held off Missouri Southern 75-71 behind 30 points from Cassie Lombardino at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Washburn (11-1, 7-1 MIAA) scored the first point of the game on a free throw from Lombardino a minute into the game, but the Lions (7-5, 5-3 MIAA) rattled off the next nine points to take a 9-1 lead with 17:28 to play in the half.

A 14-4 run over the next six and a half minutes gave Washburn the lead 15-13 with 10:45 remaining in the stanza. The game was tied at 15 when the Lady Blues went on a 16-3 run to take a 31-18 lead with 5:53 to play in the half. The lead was still 13 at the 4:33 mark, but Missouri Southern ended the half on a 16-4 run and Washburn's lead was just one, 37-36, at the half.

The Lady Blues were able to extend their lead to six in the early going of the second half, but the Lions kept pace. Threes by Stevi Schultz and Laura Kinderknecht pushed the lead back to seven with 6:42 to play in the game.

Four quick points brought MSSU to within three at 67-64 with 4:33 to play. A pair of free throws by Lombardino put WU back up five with just over three minutes to play. Two Lion free throws brought it back to a three-point game, but Lombardino answered with a bucket to put the Lady Blues back up by five with 30 seconds to play. A traditional three-point play by Kelby Fritz pulled MSSU to within a pair at 71-69, but the Lions could get no closer. Kinderknecht and Schultz both hit a pair from the charity stripe in the final 12 seconds to ice the game for Washburn.

Lombardino led Washburn with 30 points, her second straight 30-point performance. Kinderknecht finished with 15 points and four assists, while Schultz added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Washburn shot 43.4 percent for the game, 23-of-53, and were 8-of-21 from beyond the arc for 38.1 percent. The Lady Blues were 21-of-25 from the foul line for 84 percent. Washburn also out-rebounded MSSU 37-31.

Erin Rice led Missouri Southern with 30 points and added nine rebounds. Jasmine Lovejoy finished with 18 points and added eight boards.

The Lions shot 48.3 percent for the game, 29-of-60, and were just 4-of-17 from three-point range for 23.5 percent. MSSU was 9-of-15 from the foul line for 60 percent.

Washburn is back in action on Wednesday night at home against Pittsburg State at 5:30 p.m.


Head Coach Ron McHenry talks about the Lady Blues' gritty win at Missouri Southern