The Missouri Western women are hoping for a happier new year.  The Griffons closed out 2011 with a 64-62  loss at Nebraska Omaha, capping a winless month of December.

Down double digits most of the game, Western mounted a come back in the final minutes, but simply ran out of time.  The Griffons chipped away a 9-point deficit in the final 1:58.  Jessica Koch’s 3-pointer at the buzzer made it a two point game, and marked the closest the Griffons got since the early portion of the first half.

Western was down 15 points, midway through the second half, but UNO went cold down the stretch,  scoring just 4 points in the game’s final 8 minutes, but the Griffons struggled to score themselves, shooting just 29% (18-62) from the floor.

Jessica Koch led Western with 30 points, playing all 40 minutes.  She scored 31 points in the same venue last year.

Alicia Bell added 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.

Freshman Cathleen Cox led UNO with 23 points on 10-17 shooting.

Western falls to 2-8 overall, and has lost six straight.  UNO improves to 9-5, in this, their first season of NCAA Division 1 play.

The Griffons return home Wednesday, January 4th, where they’ll host rival Northwest Missouri State at the Fieldhouse.   The women tip-off at 5:30 p.m, and the men follow at 7:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —