The Missouri Western women’s basketball team opened up the 2013-14 season with a convincing victory 59-38 over the Chadron State College Eagles. The Griffons held the Eagles to just nine points and 12-percent (3-25) shooting in the first half. The nine points is the lowest since November 28, 2003 when MWSU held Lincoln to 11 in the first half. Tiara Hall had an outstanding first game collecting a double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Griffons opened the game scoring the first 10 points of the game. The Eagles cut the Griffon lead to 12-6 after a long range shot by Kayli Rageth with 8:47 to play in the half. From there the Griffons took control ending on a 16-3 run claiming the 28-9 lead at the half.

The Griffons made 10-32 field goals in the first frame with Hall going 3-for-7 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. She had 11 points and 10 rebounds at the half. The Griffons dominated the boards with 32 rebounds to Chadron’s 20. The Griffons had 18 poitns in the paint and 14 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.

The Eagles were led by Kattie Ranta with five points while making just 3-of-25 field goals, 1-of-9 three point shots and 2-of-10 free throws.

In the second half the Griffons continued to score at will pushing its lead to as many as 22 early in the half at the 15:38 mark off a layup by Kyrsten Crawford and at the 14:26 mark off a layup by Alexis Gray. MWSU took its largest lead of the game with 6:41 to play when Quenisha Lockett scored a layup. The Griffons scored 22 points in the paint and 14 bench points in the second half.

MWSU finished the game shooting 40.4-percent (23-57) from the field which included 52-percent (13-25) in the second half. They ad 48 rebounds and 17 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second chance points. The Griffons dominated the points in the paint scoring 40 to Chadron State’s 12. Thirteen different Griffons scored in the game with Lockett and Ariana Novak pitching in eight.

The Eagles made just 12-of-50 field goals and 11-of-24 firee throws in the game. Kayli Rageth collected a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She made 7-of-11 free throws as they fall to 0-1 on the season.

The Griffons take their 1-0 record into next week when they take on non-conference opponent Avila University on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:00 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —