Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University women's basketball team completed a thrilling 61-59 victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday night in Bolivar. Jacqui Zelenka sealed the game for the Bearcats in the final seconds, hitting a lay-up and a free throw to put the Bearcats up for good.

SBU and Missouri Southern went back and forth in the first half, with Missouri Southern taking a 30-27 advantage going into halftime. The Lions built a small lead in the second half, but the Bearcats kept the Lions within striking distance. The Bearcats continually fought throughout the entire contest, even after going down 59-53 with only 1:18 seconds left in the game. However, the Bearcats never gave up as Zelenka went down and hit a key three seconds later to cut the lead in half. Dukes would hit an impressive layup to pull SBU within one at 59-58. The Bearcats stellar defense would cause a Lion turnover, and then Zelenka hit the game winning layup on a nice assist from Kayla Hruby to go on to a 61-59 victory.

Jacqui Zelenka was the leading scorer for the second straight game for the Bearcats, giving SBU 19 points off of 50% shooting from the field and beyond the arc while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists in the win. Brittney Dukes played a strong game as she scored 15 points, and LaKendra Smith was a key factor on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with 9 points.

"It wasn't our best game of the season, but we fought back as a team," Zelenka stated after the victory. "She fouled me [on the game winning shot] and I thought I just need to make this free throw.  I have made a lot of free throws tonight, and I knew I could do it then.  After that we just needed to get a stop on defense and we would be good."

As a team the Bearcats shot 42.9% from the field, 35.0% from beyond the arc, and 70.6% from the field. The Bearcats forced 16 turnovers, while dishing out 14 assists in the win.

"I like where our team is at," head coach Todd Voss commented after the game. "We are on a growth curve right now, and I am really proud of our kids. What I really like is that our kids did not flinch, and we finished the game on an 8 to 2 run.  Jacqui [Zelenka] had a tremendous game and I am really proud of what she is doing offensively and how she is being more aggressive.  She had a great shot at the end of the game and I love the fact that she finished it off with a free throw to put us in a good situation.  Tanis [Spani] is playing at a great level for us defensively and offensively.  The enthusiasm and her fight is something that our team plays off of."

SBU will be back in action on Wednesday, February 1 when they travel to Pittsburg, Kansas to take on #16 Pittsburg State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.