ST. JOSEPH – For the first time since the 2006-07 season, the Missouri Western women’s basketball team is 5-0 as they defeated Graceland 99-35 Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The 22nd-ranked Griffons came one point short of scoring 100 or more in consecutive games for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

Missouri Western had five players score in double figures, including a game-high 27 from LaQuinta Jefferson. She added five rebounds, five assists and two steals on 12-14 shooting from the field. Sarafina Handy finished with 16 points. Mhykeah Baez matched a career-high, scoring 15 points and adding eight rebounds. Miliakere Koyamainavure scored 14 and Sefulu Faavae finished with 10 points. For the second night in a row, all 10 Griffons scored and eight shot 50 percent or better from the field.

As a team, Missouri Western was 61 percent from the field, including 65 percent shooting in the first half. Graceland was limited to 25 percent shooting from the field for the game and 21 percent from behind the arc. Missouri Western totaled 10 fouls on the night, sending Graceland to the line just three times, all in the first half. The Griffons finished with a 47-26 advantage on the glass and forced 31 Graceland turnovers, while finishing with 29 assists themselves. Missouri Western outscored Graceland in the paint, 72-14 and got 34 points off the bench.

Missouri Western begins conference play next week with a trip to Central Missouri on Wednesday.

— MWSU Athletics —