MHS basketball: Owls drop two at Fulton

FULTON -- Marshall head girls' basketball coach Tony Willis' concerns about the improvement in Fulton were well-founded.

The Lady Owls were unable to sweep the season series on the road Saturday, dropping a 40-30 NCMC decision. Freshman Bailey Mitchell, a non-factor during Marshall's 30-29 victory on Dec. 10, led all scorers with 19 points for the Lady Hornets.

Fulton took a one-point lead into the second quarter, but a pair of three-pointers by freshman Stephanie Hughes spurred a 13-2 run during the period. However, the Lady Owls got three buckets from sophomore Stephanie Stark during the third frame to close to within five points.

Down the stretch, though, the Lady Hornets did what they needed to do. Mitchell made three shots, including one from long range, and Fulton (4-14, 2-6 NCMC) converted eight of 10 free-throw attempts.

Stark had nine points and freshman Stephanie Markes added six off the bench for Marshall (2-16, 2-6), which will be at home Thursday against league foe Boonville.

The Owls hit their customary rough patch during the second quarter of their 63-45 loss at Fulton. Up 17-11 after one period, the Hornets used a 17-8 stanza to take a 34-19 lead into the break -- a gap Marshall was unable to close, although the result was much closer than its 60-30 loss in December.

Senior Wilson Christensen paced Fulton (6-12, 3-5) with 15 points and 10 rebounds and senior Verdis Lee added 13 points, eight assists and four steals.

The Owls (3-16, 2-6), who return to the road Friday at Boonville, got 13 points from senior Lucas Hart and 10 from junior Xavier Foster.