ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team has moved up three spots to No. 13 in the latest WBCA/USA Today Division II top 25 poll.  It’s the highest ranking for the Griffons since 2007 as they’re off to a 14-0 start, the best official start in school history.

Missouri Western entered this week ranked 16th in the poll and is one of three MIAA teams inside the top-13. The Griffons are one of just two remaining undefeated teams not ranked in the top-10 of the poll. Four undefeated teams are ranked ahead of Missouri Western including No. 1 West Texas A&M (12-0). MIAA foe Fort Hays State dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 after its first loss of the season, 82-71, on Dec. 19 at Southwest Baptist. Another MIAA team, Emporia State is the only two-loss team in the top-10 at 11-2 on the season. The Lady Hornets have losses to Fort Hays and Missouri Southern.

Missouri Western sits atop the MIAA standings and entered the week second in all of Division II in field goal percentage, scoring margin, scoring offense and steals. Overall the team ranked in the top-10 nationally in eight statistical categories. MIAA leading scorer LaQuinta Jefferson was named the MIAA Athlete of the Week for the third consecutive week and fourth time in the last five weeks on Monday. Jefferson entered the week third in the nation in scoring and her 23.5 points per game are most in the MIAA by more than three points per game.

The Griffons will be tested in the coming weeks. After ending a four-game homestand this coming Saturday with Northwest Missouri State, the Griffons travel to Washburn and Emporia State next week. Washburn currently sits fourth in the MIAA, tied with No. 8 Emporia State. Missouri Western then returns home for games against No. 3 Fort Hays, which sits second in the MIAA, and Nebraska-Kearney before travelling to fifth place Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern the last week of January.

— MWSU Athletics —