The Missouri Western women’s basketball team fell 66-62 in a hard fought MIAA contest against the Missouri Southern Lions on Wednesday night in the fieldhouse. Twenty five Western turnovers led to 33 points for the Lions. Western falls to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in MIAA play.
The Griffons nailed 11-of-12 free throws in the first half helping them claim a 31-27 lead at the break. The Lions opened up the game hitting their first two long range shots claiming a 6-0 lead. Western responded with an 11-3 run taking their first lead of the game at 11-9 after a Jessica Koch layup with 11:48 to play in the frame.
Western used another run late in the half taking their largest lead of the half at 25-20 after a long range shot from Stacey Mgbike as time expired on the shot clock. The Lions tied the score at 25 but Western stayed calm closing on a 6-2 run which included a layup by Charlonda Bozeman as the half ended.
Western shot 38.1-percent (8-21) from the field and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc with Jessica Koch leading the way with eight points. Missouri Southern made 9-of-24 field goals with Erin Rice leading all scorers with 11 points.
Things looked good for the Griffons in the second half opening on a 19-6 run claiming a nine point lead at 46-37 after a Koch jumper with 12:03 to play. The Lions took control the rest of the way outscoring the Griffons 29-16 on their way to their first MIAA victory. The Lions improve to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play.
Western got outscored 34-16 in the paint and 17-11 off the bench. The Griffons shot 34.6-percent (18-52) from the field and made 20-of-24 free throws. Koch led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting. Brittany Griswold finished the night with 13 points and snared a team high seven boards.
The Lions shot 47.4-percent (27-57) from the floor with Rice finishing with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Tatianna Washington and Haley Weathers finished with 12 and 10 points respectively.
Western travels to Hays, Kan. on Saturday, December 10 to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Gross Memorial Coliseum. If you can make the game listen to all the action on 680 AM KFEQ.
— MWSU Sports Information —