ST. JOSEPH – The No. 7 Missouri Western Women’s basketball team used a dominant third quarter to clinch at least a share of the program’s first MIAA Regular Season Championships since 2002 with a 67-57 win over Washburn.

Like the team had done many times this season, the Griffons dominated Washburn in the third quarter to erase a four-point halftime deficit and take an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter. Missouri Western dropped 23 third quarter points and limited Washburn to eight. The surge after the break was sparked by a 6-0 run to end the first half that cut a 10-point Washburn lead with 49 seconds left in the first half to just four points at halftime.

The Missouri Western defense limited Washburn to just eight made field goals and a 40 percent field goal shooting percentage in the second half after the Ichabods shot 62 percent in the first half. Missouri Western actually made one fewer field goal in the second half than the first, but went 10-11 from the free throw line after the break. The Griffons were also able to out-rebound Washburn, winning the battle on the glass 34-29.

Miliakere Koyamainavure led Missouri Western with 16 points and eight rebounds. LaQuinta Jefferson finished with 14 points and Sarafina Handy added 13.

The win also gave Missouri Western a program record, 25 regular season wins and improved on the team’s record MIAA win total with its 19th of the season. The Griffons can clinch the outright championship with a Fort Hays State loss on Thursday or with a Missouri Western win on Saturday. The Griffons close the regular season Saturday, hosting Central Missouri.

— MWSU Athletics —