(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) — The 12th-ranked Jennies scored 40 points in the opening half, propelling them to a 70-61 win at home against the Missouri Southern Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The Jennies (16-3, 10-2 MIAA) fell behind, 2-0 but would score 10 of the next 12 points to take a 10-4 lead that they would never relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Jennies lead grew to 13 with 11:02 left in the opening half, capping a 14-7 run for UCM.

The Lions cut the lead to eight at 26-18 with 8:13 to go until halftime, but the Jennies sustained a double-digit edge for the remaining eight minutes, led by Keuna Flax and BreAnna Lewis, who combined for 10 points in that span. UCM scored 15 points off of Missouri Southern turnovers in the first 20 minutes, but the Lions bested the Jennies’ bench, 14-7. UCM went into the locker room with a 40-29 cushion.

The Lions jumped back into the game with a 7-2 spurt to start the second half, pulling to within six at 42-36. Flax scored six quick points to help the Jennies lead grow to nine with 14:34 left in the game.

However, five-straight points from Dominique Mosley pulled Missouri Southern to within 48-44 with 13:09 remaining. It was as close as the Lions came to tying the game as UCM ran away with a 13-3 run over the next 6:31 to make it a 61-47 contest.

Mosley and Alexis Fitzpatrick accounted for the next seven points for MSSU, pulling to within eight at 66-58 with 2:48 left.

Revonnia Howard made a layup on the ensuing possession, giving the Jennies a 68-58 lead and helping secure their 16th victory of the season.

Flax led the Jennies in scoring with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the floor, and deposited all seven of her free-throw attempts. Lewis chipped in 22, 16 coming in the opening 20 minutes. Howard secured a double-digit rebound day with 11.

The Jennies will next host Southwest Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 6 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

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