EDMOND, Okla. – The No. 8 Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team won its 23rd game of the season, 88-78 over Central Oklahoma. The Griffons got off to a blistering start and hung on down the stretch for the team’s 17th MIAA win of the season, the most in program history.

Missouri Western jumped out to an early lead, outscoring UCO 21-6 in the first quarter. The Griffons were outscored by four in the second quarter but still took a 35-24 lead to halftime. Central Oklahoma outscored the Griffons again in the second half, 54-53 but the big, early lead was enough.

Sarafina Handy led Missouri Western with a career-high matching 26 points. Handy broke a personal career record with six made threes in the game. LaQuinta Jefferson scored 18 points. Miliakere Koyamainavure finished with 16 points and six assists. Mhykeah Baez just missed a double-double with 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds. The Griffons shot 54.2 percent from the floor in the game and 57.1 percent from long range.

The Griffons improve to 23-2 and 17-2 in the MIAA.  They stay on the road next week with a game at Northwest Missouri State on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —