Rolla, Mo. - Freshman Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) registered her first collegiate double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs, as the Missouri S&T women's basketball team claimed a 78-58 non-league home win over Southern Arkansas this Saturday (Nov. 17) afternoon in Community Appreciation Day at S&T's Gibson Arena.  

Missouri S&T, which upped its overall record to 2-0 on the season, had four individuals score in double figures.  Kerr, a freshman, was joined in the double-digit scoring column by junior forward Maddie Raley (Haubstadt, Ind./Gibson Southern) with a game-high tying 16 points.  Senior forward Bria Pierce (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) and freshman guard Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) both tossed in 10 points apiece.  The Miners, who won the battle on the boards 50-43, were led by Kerr's 12 rebounds while junior center Mykala Baylor (South Bend, Ind./Clay), who was appearing in her second game as a Miner, grabbed 11 caroms to go with a game-leading four blocked shots.  Kerr, who played 22 minutes off the bench, also chipped in with three blocks.  Senior guard Jordan Kabetske (Republic, Mo./Republic) dished out a game-most nine assists.

Southern Arkansas was paced in scoring by guard Ariana Guinn and guard Kylie Warren with 16 and 11 points, respectlvely.  The Muleriders, who fall to 1-3 on the season with the loss, received a team-leading nine rebounds from guard Brette Wacha.

The Miners finished the game shooting 43.8 percent (28-64) from the floor, 22.2 percent in three's (4-18), and went 18-of-28 (64.3%) in free throws conversions.  The Muleriders shot 31.9 percent (22-69) for the day and hit on only 12.5 percent (4-32) from beyond the three-point arc.  SAU was 18-for-28 (64.3%) in free throw opportunities.

SAU committed 18 turnovers in the contest to S&T's 14 while the Miners held a 20-16 margin in assists and a 7-1 advantage in blocked shots for the game.

After 1st Q - S&T 16, SAU 9
The Miners took a 12-4 lead in the first six minutes of the game.  SAU was able to cut its deficit to five points (12-7) with 3:49 remaining in the quarter but couldn't get any closer. 

After 2nd Q - S&T 37, SAU 22
S&T would claim a 15-point halftime advantage thanks to eight consecutive points to close out the scoring for the second quarter.  The Miners, who held a 14-point lead (26-12) at the 7:13 mark, had their lead cut in half to seven (28-21) with 4:38 left on the clock as the Muleriders outscored S&T 9-2 in about a two-minute span.  Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) totaled eight points and eight rebounds at the break while Bria Pierce (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) had recorded seven points. 

After 3rd Q - S&T 56, SAU 41
Both teams netted 19 points apiece in the third quarter as the Miners connected on 38.9 percent (7-18) from the floor and went 4-5 at the charity stripe.  S&T would hold a double-figure lead throughout the 10 minutes of the quarter with the largest being 19 points (49-30) at 4:48 following a Bria Pierce (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) free throw.  SAU managed to trim seven points off its 19-point deficit to get within a dozen (51-39) with 2:11 to go in the frame. 

FINAL SCORE: S&T 78, SAU 58
The Muleriders were able to close to within 11 points on two occasions, including 58-47 on the last one with just under eight minutes left to be played.  However, S&T reeled off nine consecutive points in the next two-and-a half minutes to extend its lead to 20 points at 67-47.  A pair of Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) free throws gave the home team a 23-cushion (74-51) with 2:44 remaining which signified its largest lead of the game.    

Up Next: Missouri S&T will conclude its season-opening home stand Wednesday, Nov. 21, as the Miners square off against the Westminster (Utah) Griffins at S&T's Gibson Arena.  A 6 p.m. (CT) start is scheduled for the non-conference matchup between the two teams.

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