ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team began defense of its 2015-2016 MIAA championship with a convincing 78-56 win over Southwest Minnesota State to open the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament Friday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons recovered from a 35 percent field goal shooting effort in the first half to finish 42 percent from the field on the night. Missouri Western was cold to begin the night, shooting 25 percent from three-point range through the first two quarters, then 50 percent from behind the arc in the second half. The Griffons scored 16 points off 20 Southwest Minnesota turnovers, 13 of them steals.

Dwanisha Tate led the Griffons with 16 points. The senior guard added seven rebounds. Chelsea Dewey scored 13 on the night to go with five assists. Sefulu Faavae flirted with her first career triple-double, scoring eight with five rebounds, five assists and five steals. Erin Anderson scored 10 in her first game as a Griffon. Julia Torres dropped in nine points with a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Griffons continue play in the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday when the team hosts Upper Iowa at 6:30 p.m. The Peacocks dropped their opener Friday afternoon to Fort Hays State.

— MWSU Athletics —