The Missouri Western women’s basketball team continued their road struggles Saturday as they fell at Lindenwood, 72-60. The Griffons shot 41.1-percent (23-56) from the field but got outscored at the free throw line 24-7. The Griffons fall to 9-12 overall and 4-10 in MIAA play.

The Griffons opened up the game scoring the first five points but from there the Lady Lions would take command. Lindenwood went on a 22-8 run which was capped by a Julie Hlinak jumper giving Lindenwood the 22-13 lead with 10:52 to play in the frame.

Missouri Western responded nicely going on a 10-1 tying the score at 23 after a Kyrsten Crawford layup with 5:09 left in the half. Lindenwood outscored the Griffons by four the rest of the frame taking the 34-30 lead at the half.

In the first half the Griffons turned the ball over 15 times despite shooting 44.4-percent (12-27) from the field. The Griffons were led by Crawford with 8 points. The Lions made 14-of-19 free throws with Kassidy Gengenbacher and Caroline Bourlioux leading the way with seven points apiece. The Lions scored 15 points off Griffon turnovers.

The Griffons quickly closed the four point gap by scoring six of the first eight points in the second half tying the score at 36 with 15:43 to play. Both teams would go on mini runs and after a three pointer from Alex Saxen with 9:34 to play the Griffons trailed by just two at 47-45 with 9:34 to play.

Lindenwood dominated the rest of play outscoring the Griffons 25-15 winning by 12. The Lady Lions improve to 11-10 overall and 6-8 in MIAA play. They were led by Bourlioux with 16 points while Gengenbacher and Jenny Rocha dumped in 15 and 12 respectively.

The Griffons were led by Saxen with 14 points while Lockett and Crawford pitched in 12 and 11 respectively. The Griffons had 23 turnovers which led to 24 Lindenwood points.

The Griffons return home on Saturday, February 15 to take on the Missouri Southern Lions at 1:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —