ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The 16th-ranked Missouri Western Women’s basketball team narrowly avoided their first loss of the season, hanging on for a 79-77 win at Lindenwood Friday.

LaQuinta Jefferson scored the team’s final four points, tying the game and giving the Griffons their final lead. Jefferson’s 29th point of the game came on a layup off a Melia Richardson steal with :57 left. Richardson would pull down a defensive rebound on the ensuing Lindenwood possession but drove the length of the floor and had a layup attempt blocked with :20 left. Out of a Lindenwood time out, Sufulu Faavae blocked a Jenny Rocha layup with 10 seconds left. Lindenwood fouled Jefferson with three seconds remaining and the senior guard made both free throws to give the Griffons the lead and the win.

Missouri Western improved to 10-0 on the year and 5-0 in MIAA play. It’s the first time Missouri Western is 5-0 in the MIAA, officially, since the 1994-95 season and the first 10-0 start since 1998-99.

Jefferson led all scorers with 31 points, adding five rebounds and three steals. Mhykeah Baez went a perfect 8-8 from the field, scoring a career-high 16 points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds before fouling out. Richardson finished with nine points. Missouri Western shot 54 percent from the field for the game.

The Griffons stay on the road this weekend with a trip to Lincoln on Sunday.

— MWSU Athletics —