The Missouri Western women’s basketball team used a balanced attack to defeat the Lincoln Blue Tigers in non-conference action by a score of 65-57 in the Lincoln Thanksgiving Classic. All ten of the Griffons that played scored with Heather Howard recording her fifth straight double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Griffons improve to 5-1 with the victory.
The first half went back and forth as they Blue Tigers took advantage of poor MWSU shooting to claim a 13-6 lead with 11:04 to play in the first frame after two Freddie Sims free throws.
The Griffons got things going the next few minutes going on a 14-4 run to claim a 20-17 lead after a three by Sharniece Lewis with 6:36 to play in the half. MWSU continued to put on the pressure outscoring Lincoln 14-10 to take a seven point lead at 34-27.
The Griffons shot 43.3-percent (13-30) from the field and 4-of-6 from long range. Jallisa Lewis led the way with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting while Howard dumped in seven.
Lincoln made 10-of-23 field goals with Arriana Walker dumping in seven points. The Griffons forced 17 turnovers and scored 16 points off the Blue Tiger turnovers.
Early in the second half the Griffons extended the lead to 11 after a Kallie Schoonover three and a Brittany Griswold free throw giving MWSU the 38-27 lead with 17:47 to play.
The Blue Tigers cut the Griffons lead to three at 38-35 after two Sims free throws with 14:07 to play. Once again the Griffons used a big run claiming its second 11 point lead at 53-42 after Howard nailed a jumper with 5:26 to play.
Lincoln did not give up and with a Walker layup and three pointer and two Dahlia Booker layups the Griffon lead was cut to 53-51 with 3:43 to play.
Once again the Griffons remained calm and picked up the defense holding the Blue Tigers to just six point down the stretch while MWSU dumped in 12 to pick up its fifth victory of the season.
The Griffons dumped in 23 bench points with 17 coming in the second half to Lincoln’s four. The Griffons also had 23 points off 24 Blue Tiger turnovers. The Griffons made 22-of-56 field goals and 14-of-18 free throws. They also made 7-of-14 long range shots.
Griswold was the only other Griffon in double digit scoring as she dumped in a season high 10 points. Howard finished with four blocks.
The Blue Tigers fall to 3-2 with the loss. They had four players in double digits with Walker pitching in 18 points ans snaring nine rebounds.
The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, November 27 when they host the Quincy Hawks. Tip time is set for 7:00 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
— MWSU Sports Information —