KANSAS CITY – There was no need for any last second drama this time around in Kansas City as the Missouri S&T Lady Miners closed the first half strong en route to a blow out 69-44 win at Rockhurst on Thursday evening. In its trip to Kansas City last season the Lady Miners needed a steal on the game's final possession to hang on for the 52-51 victory.

The first 13 minutes of the opening half were a see-saw affair with each side answering each other basket for basket. S&T (17-7, 11-5 GLVC) led by as many as three early while Rockhurst (5-19, 2-14 GLVC) held a two-point edge.

With the score tied at 18-18 the Lady Miners dominated the final six minutes of the frame by scoring 14 of the final 16 points to take a 32-20 lead into the locker room at the break. Julie Meyer (Marthasville, Mo./St. Francis Borgia) and Hailee Parks (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) scored four points apiece in the run.

S&T shot 57 percent (13-for-23) from the field in the opening half and were 6-of-8 at the foul line. Parks led the way with nine while Kyesha Hall (Dodson, La.) added six and Meyer dropped in five. Courtney Kemp (Fredricktown, Mo./Fredricktown) and Karli Sample (St. Joseph, Mo./Benton) added four each.

The Hawks shot just 31 percent (8-for-26) from the floor and was led by MaKayla Grahn with five points.

Grahn scored the first basket of the second stanza for Rockhurst to cut the deficit to 10.

From that point on it was all Lady Miners scoring seven of the next eight points to take a 16 point advantage 2:30 in.

The Hawks closed to within 12 but for the most part S&T held a 16-point lead for a majority of the second half.

S&T eventually built its lead to as many as 27 on a put back from Quintonia Evans (Evansville, Ind.) with 4:24 to play.

The Lady Miners finished the contest shooting 46 percent (25-for-53) from the field and went 18-of-26 (69 percent) from the foul line.

Parks led S&T with a game-high 20 points while Hall added 10. Meyer finished with nine while Sample, Senait McLeod (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) and Katelyn Heil (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) added seven points apiece.

Rockhurst shot just 27 percent (18-for-67) from the floor and were led by Grahn's nine points. Chrissy Sarcone, Allison Streich and Susan Hohenadel added six apiece.

S&T closes out the regular season at home on Saturday playing host to William Jewell beginning at 3 p.m. The game was originally scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. but was bumped to accommodate WJC.

Prior to Saturday's game the Lady Miners will be honoring their seniors in their final home game.

Click here for the full box score.