Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University women's basketball team gave all #1 Emporia State could handle on Saturday in Bolivar, but the Bearcats would fall short in the end 74-63. With the loss, SBU drops to 5-4 (1-2 MIAA) on the season.

The Lady Hornets were quick out of the gate against the Bearcats, as SBU quickly fell behind 9-0 with 15:41 left in the first half. The Bearcats responded with an 11-0 run, and three buckets from Brook Duncan, to take their first lead of the game at 11-9 with 12:25 left in the first half. After ESU tied the game up on their next possession, a Sarah Magana layup gave the lead back to SBU, and the Bearcats would hold strong for the remainder of the half taking a 25-22 halftime lead over the #1 team in the NCAA.

In the second half ESU once again stared strong, quickly building up a three-point lead (31-28) two minutes into the second half. The Bearcats continued to hang right with the Lady Hornets, and back-to-back step back jumpers from Dilonna Johnson gave the lead back to SBU at 37-34 with 15:18 to go. After SBU went up 39-36 with 12:37 left, ESU used a 13-2 run to put some distance between themselves and the Bearcats. SBU was never able to to make up the difference as the Bearcats fell 74-63 in a well played game.

Brook Duncan narrowly missed a double-double for SBU, scoring a team high 15 points and pulling down a team high 9 rebounds. Ashlee Pitts also played a solid game for the Bearcats with 13 points on 4 of 6 shooting from the field, while Dilonna Johnson added 10 points. As a team, SBU shot 37.3% from the field, 35.0% from beyond the arc, and 63.2% from the line.

The Bearcats will be back in action after Christmas break on Wednesday, December 31 when they travel to Florida to face Eckerd College. Tip-off from St. Petersburg, Florida is set for 2:00 p.m.