JOPLIN, Mo. – It looked like the sixth-ranked Missouri Western women’s basketball team was going to suffer its third-straight loss, but someone forgot to tell Sarafina Handy it was over.

The Griffons’ leading three-point shooter launched a line drive three at the rim with 1.4 seconds left and her team down 70-67 that splashed home to tie the game. That just wasn’t enough of a storyline for this day though, as the senior was fouled on the shot and sank her free throw to seal a 71-70 win for the team, it’s first in Joplin since 2008.

Handy’s free throw gave Missouri Western its first lead in the game since the 1:41 mark of the third quarter. The Griffons had built a six-point lead that Missouri Southern would turn into a two-point deficit before the third quarter ended. Southern would jump ahead by as many as five points in the fourth. That was the spread with 3:11 left in the game when Handy knocked down her first three of the game to pull Missouri Western within two at 63-61. From there the two teams traded free throws until Deb Holcomb knocked down her sixth three of the game to give Southern a three-point lead with just under a minute to go. LaQuinta Jefferson made two free throws to cut the lead to one. Missouri Western fouled Sharese Jones on the Lions’ ensuing possession. Jones made the first and missed the second. Jefferson struggled to pull down the rebound, eventually losing it out of bounds. The Griffons would foul Jones again, and again, she made the first and missed the second setting up Handy’s miracle off a Jefferson rebound.

Jefferson led Missouri Western with 17. Miliakere Koyamainavure and Mhykeah Baez each had 12 points. Baez finished with a team-high seven rebounds. Chelsea Dewey added 10 points nad Handy finished with nine. The win improved Missouri Western to 19-2 on the year and 13-2 in the MIAA. It stopped a seven-game losing streak in Joplin.

The Griffons return home next week to host Lindenwood on Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. and Lincoln on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —