Joplin, Mo. – Missouri Southern senior guard Sharese Jones scored 14 points tonight, en route surpassing 1,000 points in her career as the Lions defeated Avila, 84-47 tonight on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Southern (5-0) was led by Jenson Maydew with 15 points on 4-7 shooting, 3-3 from long range (ties a career high) and 4-4 from the free throw line. She also added eight rebounds. Jones cored 14 points and added eight boards, while Desirea Buerge added 12, Chelsey Henry scored 11 and Kayla Kivinski had 10.
Avila (1-6) was led in scoring by 11 points from Kolby McIntosh.
The Lions scored the game’s first points as Jones hit a layup just 16 seconds in. Both teams traded baskets until a 10-2 run, capped off by a three from Dru Clark gave the Lions a 22-16 lead with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
The run reached 26-10 when a three pointer from Kayla Kivinski made the score 40-24 with five minutes left in the second. Southern took a 48-29 lead into the halftime break.
A balanced scoring attack helped the Lions in the first half. Maydew scored nine, while Deb Holcombadded eight. Kavinski and Henry had seven each, while Clark and Jones had six apiece.
A bucket from Jones with 4:06 left in the third quarter gave the Lions a 55-36 lead and put Jones over the 1,000 point mark in her career. The Lions led 62-40 at the end of the third.
Southern shot 44 percent from the field and 59 percent from long-range, making 13 on the night, just one off of tying the school record. Southern led the rebound battle with a 36-26 advantage, including 19 offensive boards, scoring 14 second chance points. The Lions also forced 27 turnovers, scoring 27 points off of the miscues.
The Lions out scored Avila 36-18 in the second half, including 22-7 in the fourth quarter.
Southern will be back in action this Saturday as the Lions play host to Illinois-Springfield at 1 pm.