Lady Greyhounds Stumble in Second Half, Fall to NEO in Crowder College Classic Opener

NEOSHO, Mo. — ASU Mid-South couldn't sustain its early momentum on Friday afternoon, dropping Game 1 of the Crowder College Classic to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, — a matchup defined by a sharp second-quarter shift and a dominant defensive performance from the Lady Norse.

The Lady Greyhounds opened strong, controlling the pace and taking an 18–12 lead after the first quarter. But NEO responded with a surge, erupting for 29 points in the second quarter to seize control heading into halftime.

From there, NEO's defense took over. The Lady Norse clamped down in the second half, holding ASU Mid-South to just nine total points over the final 20 minutes. Their full-court pressure and half-court traps forced 25 turnovers, which NEO converted into 34 points. They also controlled the interior, pulling down more than 20 offensive rebounds and dominating the paint.

Despite the team's struggles, Lula-Jae Tranfaglia provided a bright spot for ASU Mid-South, recording another double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Ka'M bili Nelson added 11 points, while Cadence Irby and Alana Whiten chipped in 6 points each.

NEO featured a balanced offensive attack led by Ana Carolina's 18 points. Montay Davis and Eliana Florence-Valentin each added 10, Saniyah Morrison scored 9, and both Taylor Swarnes and Suzane Wembadjonga finished with 8.

With the loss, the Lady Greyhounds fall to 2–7 on the season. They return to action Saturday afternoon, taking on host Crowder College at 3:00 p.m. as they look to bounce back and split the weekend.