Box Score Since the calendar rolled over to 2014, the Lindenwood women's basketball team has run the gauntlet of the best teams in its conference.

The Lady Lions lost 72-61 Wednesday to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Memories of the Lady Lions' six-game home winning streak in December have faded. Settling in is the stark reality the program still has a way to go before it can be counted among the league's elite teams.

"As good as the teams we've been playing are, we're going to spend the next week working on us," Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said. "We had 13 turnovers in the first half (Wednesday), and most of those were unforced. That's maturity, accountability and focus. They have to learn to bring that night after night."

The Lady Lions fell to 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA. The Lions improved to 11-3, 5-2. After trailing the Lions by 10 points at halftime, the Lady Lions whittled the deficit to 54-51 when junior Morgan Johnson drained a three-point basket with 7 minutes 30 seconds left in the game.

However, in the next two minutes, Missouri Southern junior Shawnee Phillips made two free throws and a three-pointer and teammate Dominique Mosley made a layup to push the Lions' lead back to 10. Phillips (5-foot-8) finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Mosley (6-1) finished with a game-high eight rebounds. Center Shonte Clay (6-2) scored a game-high 19 points for the Lions.

Johnson sank three three-pointers and led the Lady Lions with 16 points. Freshman Kassidy Gengenbacher equaled her season scoring average with 14 points. And senior Caroline Bourlioux finished with 11 points. Sophomore Jenny Rocha led the Lady Lions with six assists and freshman Bre Zanders and junior Julie Hlinak led them with five rebounds.

"Morgan gives us big numbers for the minutes she plays," Francis said. "What she does on the bench is equally important."

In order to compete with the cream of the crop in the MIAA, Francis said the Lady Lions have to get bigger and stronger on the perimeter as much as they do in the post. Bourlioux (6-0) and Zanders (6-0) are the Lady Lions two biggest players. Francis said Bourlioux never backs down to bigger post players.

The Lady Lions are off until Jan. 22 when they return to Hyland Arena to face Southwest Baptist (6-7, 1-5). Tip off is 5:30 p.m.