Women's Basketball Recap
Truman-61, Missouri Southern-59
Sarah Sommer and Kelli Floyd combined for 15 points
during a 28-5 second-half opening run for Truman and the Bulldogs held
on for a 61-59 win over Missouri Southern at the Leggett & Platt
Athletic Center.
Sommer, the MIAA's leading scorer, was saddled with three fouls in the
first half and had only two points at intermission. She came alive in
the second half with 12 points as Truman (8-10, 2-8 MIAA) beat the Lions
at home for the fifth time in six games.
Behind 14 first-half points from junior Aubrie Hallman, Southern (12-7,
3-7 MIAA) led throughout much of the opening period and took a
nine-point advantage into the break. The Bulldogs missed their first two
shots of the second half, but then made their next nine as they took off
on the 28-5 rally that included 19 straight Bulldog points. Southern, by
contrast, hit just two of its first 10 shots of the second half as
Truman took a 51-37 lead with 10 minutes to go.
The Lions chipped away at the lead, cutting the margin to two on three
occasions in the final three minutes. A three-pointer from sophomore
Carol Koenig made it 61-59 with 1:22 left. Southern had a chance after a
Truman turnover with eight seconds to play, but couldn't get off a
potential tying or winning shot.
Sommer, who blocked four shots, and Jamie Huffman finished with 14
points apiece for the Bulldogs. Floyd scored eight points, all during
TSU's second-half outburst.
Hallman had a game-high 22 points to go with six assists, five steals
and two blocks. Koenig added 11 points for the Lions.
Men's Basketball Recap
Truman-67, Missouri Southern-64
Truman shot nearly 61 percent in the second half and Ryan
Welker made four of his five three-pointers as the Bulldogs snapped
Missouri Southern's 15-game home-court winning streak, 67-64, on
Saturday.
Welker came up with 11 second-half points and finished with 17 points
for the Bulldogs (5-14, 2-8 MIAA). Andy Calmes also chipped in 17 for
Truman, which made four of its five attempts from long range in the
second half.
The Lions (12-7, 5-5 MIAA) shot only 39.3 percent in the first half but
capitalized on nine turnovers by Truman for a 33-29 lead at the break.
The Bulldogs, led by 11 points from Calmes, made 48 percent of their
shots in the opening half.
Southern jumped to a 38-31 lead to start the second half, but Welker's
jumper 2:27 into the period sparked the Bulldogs onto a 16-4 run. The
Lions answered with eight quick points, capped by a driving layup from
senior Ameer Watts, to reclaim the lead. However, back-to-back threes
from Welker set up Truman for the stretch run.
MSSU took a one-point lead, 62-61, after junior Hiram Ocasio converted
two free throws with 1:12 left. Welker took a feed from senior Matt
Beran and converted a layup just 14 seconds later and the Lions couldn't
answer.
A Watts layup pulled Southern within three with 11 seconds to play and
Beran missed two free throws with eight seconds to go that could've iced
the game. The Lions didn't get a good look at the basket on their
ensuing possession and Watts' running three-point attempt caromed off
the backboard just before time expired.
Watts finished with 13 points and eight assists to lead Southern, which
also got 12 points and six rebounds from Ocasio. Seniors Darrell Redmond
and Deon Rose added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as MSSU matched
season lows with three three-pointers made and an 18.8 shooting
percentage from long range.