JOPLIN, Mo. - Henderson State got 20 from Pink Jones and an efficient 14 points from Brittany Branum on 6-of-9 shooting, but the Reddies fell to Missouri Southern State 79-69 on Friday afternoon. 

The Reddies forced 18 turnovers and committed just 12 on the day, but struggled on the glass and were out-rebounded 42-31, as the Lions scored 19 second-chance points. 

Henderson will be back in action on Nov. 21, when HSU travels to take on Rogers State in Claremore, Oklahoma at 2 p.m. 

First Quarter
The Reddies had a sluggish start to Friday afternoon's contest, as the Lions grabbed the game's first five rebounds, and hit their first three attempts from 3-point range en route to a 13-4 run to start the game.
Henderson State responded quickly, however, as a three-quarter court pass from Pink Jones to Snowden led to a layup and jump-started a 13-0 Reddies run in which the Lions were held scoreless for more than three minutes of game action as HSU took a 17-13 lead. Pink Jones dominated the opening frame, finishing the quarter with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting as the Reddies took a 21-17 advantage into the second quarter. 

Second Quarter
Henderson State was looking for offensive answers for the first few minutes of the second quarter, going without a field goal for the first five minutes of the frame as the Lions worked their way back into the lead 26-22, with 5:00 to play in the first half. With Henderson's cold shooting, the Lions completely controlled the second quarter, outscoring Henderson State 20-8 and holding the Reddies to just 1-of-13 shooting from the field as Missouri Southern took a 37-29 lead into the halftime break. 

Third Quarter
The Reddies quickly fell behind by double-digits 46-35 in the opening moments of the second half, but the combination play of Pink Jones and Branum pulled the Reddies within six, 46-40, with 6:03 to play in the third quarter. The Reddies brought it within four after a physical layup from Whaley cut the deficit to 53-49 and it looked as though they had brought it within two, but a questionable travel call was whistled and the Lions quickly pushed the lead back to seven, 56-49. Henderson State got five points from Branum in the last 1:12 of the quarter, but the Lions carried a six-point lead into the final period, 60-54.

Fourth Quarter
Pink Jones went into takeover mode at the beginning the fourth quarter, assisting on a Branum layup before hitting back-to-back shots in the paint to make the score 62-60 Lions with just under eight minutes to play. Unfortunately, the Henderson offense went missing for the second time on the day, as the Reddies were held scoreless for more than four minutes as Missouri Southern rebuilt a 70-62 lead with under four minutes to go. Down the stretch, the Reddies defense kept Henderson within striking distance and a 5-0 run highlighted by a Blu Jones 3-pointer made it a one-possession game, 72-69, but Henderson would get no closer as Missouri Southern pulled away to win it 79-69.