The Lady Bears scored early and often Friday night, notching their first conference win following a 5-0 shutout of visiting East Mississippi.
 
"I thought that the things that we worked on this week in practice, I thought that we were finally able to implement in our play when it counts," Southwest head coach Nicole Cooper said. "My biggest thing is effort and if we just play our game, we can get the results that we want."
 
It wasn't long before the Lady Bears (4-5-2, 1-4 MACCC), light up their side of the scoreboard first. In the fifth minute, Maylee McLeod put Southwest on the board first with a goal on an assist from Evie Peet.
 
MdLeod, who is one of two captains along with fellow sophomore Tristan Byrd, had to take over full captain duties Friday in the absence of Byrd who did not play against the Lady Lions. McLeod said that it was a huge responsibility.
 
"I really rely on Tristan a lot and I didn't notice that until she was gone," she said. "I just really love her and all the support that she gives me."
 
While McLeod not only handled the captain duties, her goal also sparked the Lady Bears who quickly added to their lead.
 
Just eight minutes later, they made it a 2-0 match following a goal form Amari Simmons on an assist from Caroline Barcelona.
 
Peet stepped up one more time in the first half, this time scoring a goal in the 33^rd minute giving the Lady Bears a 3-0 advantage.
 
Southwest kept its foot on the gas in the second half getting a pair of goals from Kayla Martin. The first coming in the 66^th minute following an assist from Holly-Bo Dunning and the second with under a minute to go, as she got the assist from Mia Encinia.
 
Martin led the Lady Bears with two goals while Peet had a goal and an assist.
 
Southwest will be back in action on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Jones in the first of three-consecutive road games.