by Jonah Fabian
Kansas City, Mo. – The number four seed Missouri Southern Women’s Basketball team competed against the number five seed Gorillas of Pittsburg State in the quarterfinals of the 2023-24 MIAA Tournament. An intense game remained back-and-forth through 37 minutes of play, but the Lions fell short in the final minutes as the Gorillas advanced with a 73-65 victory in the quarterfinal game. The selection show will take place Sunday, March 10 at 9:30 PM.
The Lions defense was in control of the game early, forcing four Gorilla turnovers and allowing them only two points on 1-7 shooting in the first five minutes of play to give the Lions a 9-2 lead. Morgan Meyers had a huge three to give the Lions an eight point lead, but the defense gave up a pair of Gorilla layups to narrow the Lions lead to 12-6 with 3:26 left in the first quarter. The Gorillas found an offensive surge to end the quarter with a 10-6 scoring advantage, but it was the Lions with the 18-16 lead after the first quarter.
Both teams were trading baskets in the electric atmosphere throughout a majority of the second quarter. The Gorillas continued to find open cutters to the rim and make their shots as they took a 27-24 lead with 3:34 remaining in the half. The Lions were having a rough time finishing at the rim, shooting only 27.3 percent in the near seven and a half minute stretch. The Gorillas continued to hit from the three point line, but the Lions continued to return with layups from Morgan Meyers and Ryan Franklin kept the Lions deficit at 32-29 with 39 seconds to go. An unanswered Kaitlin Hunnicutt free throw and Ryan Franklin layup brought the game to an even 32-32 at the half. Ryan Franklin had a huge quarter and led the Lions with eight points (4-6 FG), two steals and one rebound at the half.
Neither team could run away with a lead as both continued to trade baskets through the first five minutes of play as the Gorillas took a 40-39 lead. A Mira Khan three pointer tied the ball game after a Gorilla jumper at 42-42 with 2:52 remaining. Neither team could score over the next two minutes until Brandi Hudson made a nice move in the paint and finished at the rim, but the Gorillas quickly returned as the end of the third quarter brought another tie score of 44-44.
The Gorillas began the fourth with an and-one three point play and a layup, but Kryslyn Jones returned for the Lions, converting back-to-back layups. Brandi Hudson followed a layup with two free throws to give the Lions a 52-49 lead with 7:10 remaining. A timeout was called with 6:39 to go after a game-tying three pointer from the Gorillas. Teams were trading once again as the game remained tied at 58-58 with 3:45 remaining. The Lions were having a tough time shooting from the field, but led the Gorillas in second chance opportunities with six offensive rebounds compared to the Gorillas two at the 2:00 mark. The Gorillas followed another and-one three point play with a three pointer from beyond the arch to take a 66-60 lead with 1:40 remaining as Ronnie Ressel and the Lions called a timeout. After a Kryslyn Jones layup, the Lions were forced to foul to which the Gorillas made their first two free throws to bring their lead to 68-62 with 42 seconds to go. After a Lions timeout, Kyslyn Jones converted a huge three pointer to bring the game to one possession. Another Lion foul gave the Gorillas one point as the Lions got the ball back with 34 seconds and down by four. The Lions could not convert their last three three point opportunities as the Gorillas would get the win in the quarterfinals, 73-65.
Four Lions finished in double-digits in the loss. Brandi Hudson finished with 15 points (4-7 FG, 7-8 FT) and five rebounds. Kryslyn Jones also finished with 15 points (7-15 FG, 1-6 3P), two rebounds and two steals. Ryan Franklin posted 10 points (5-11 FG), four rebounds and two steals. Maggie Sockey rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-4 3P), three rebounds and a steal.
