The Missouri Western women’s basketball team lost to No. 11 Central Missouri 59-53 in its final home game of the year Wednesday night at MWSU Fieldhouse. With the loss, the Griffons fall to 10-15 and 5-13 in the MIAA while the Jennies move to 22-3 and 16-2 in the conference.

In the first half, the Griffons led early and often. After taking a 6-2 lead in the first three minutes, Central Missouri came back to take a 7-6 lead at the 15:30 mark of the opening half. Quenisha Lockett’s layup less than a minute later put the Griffons up for good in the first half as they went on a 9-0 run to take a 15-7 lead.

Missouri Western’s lead expanded to double digits late in the half when Sharniece Lewis dropped in a 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining to go up 29-17. The 12-point lead matches the Griffons biggest lead of the game and they took a 31-23 lead into the break.

Lewis led all scorers with 14 points in the first half while the Jennies were led by Shelby Winkelmann’s 10 points. In the second half, Central Missouri began to chip away at the lead.

Minutes into the frame Winklemann nailed a triple and split a pair of free throws as the Jennies trailed by four. After falling behind by six, the Jennies went on a 7-0 run to claim their first lead since the opening minutes after Keuna Flax knocked down a pair of freebies to take a 40-39 lead with 11:33 left.

The teams swapped baskets for the better part of the game after that, and neither team led by more than four until Revonnia Howard’s lay in with 2:23 left put Central Missouri ahead 53-47. Lockett and JaQuitta Dever knocked down a couple buckets to get within two, but the Jennies secured the victory going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

Winkelmann led Central Missouri with 16 points while Flax added 16 to go with 13 rebounds for the double-double. Lewis ended with a game-high 18 points. Lockett had eight points and seven boards to pace the Griffons.

After the game the Griffons honored their six seniors, which along with Dever and Lewis, included Tiffanie Abrams, Jallisa Lewis, Cassey Sobaski and Lanicia Lawrence.

Next up for the Missouri Western women is a road matchup against Southwest Baptist.

— MWSU Sports Information —