MWSU’s upset bid comes up short in OT against No. 12 Central Missouri women

ST. JOSEPH – The Griffon women (10-6, 3-4 MIAA) nearly snapped their MIAA skid, falling in overtime to No. 12 Central Missouri (12-1, 6-0 MIAA), 80-76 on Saturday afternoon.

Central Missouri never led in the final 3:49 of regulation, but each time the Griffons built a lead, Central Missouri answered to tie the game. Central Missouri took control early in overtime, never trailing and never allowing the Griffons to get closer than two points.

Melia Richardson ended an 8-2 Central Missouri run early in the fourth quarter by scoring eight-straight points for the Griffons. The junior guard knocked down back-to-back three pointers then sank a pair of free throws to turn a four point Jennie lead into a two-point Griffon lead with 3:04 to go in regulation. Central Missouri never led again in regulation, but tied the game four times including a pair of Paige Redmond free throws with 1:35 left in the game. Missouri Western couldn’t get the winner over the final 95 seconds, sending both teams into their first overtime game of the season.

It was the Griffons fourth-straight MIAA loss after beginning 3-0 in conference play.

NOTABLES
– Missouri Western shot 54 percent from the field with UCM shooting 49 percent

– Central Missouri shot 81.6 percent from the free throw line and took 28 more free throws(38) than the Griffons (11) who shot 54.5 percent at the line

– The Griffons were tagged with 29 personal fouls and saw Jessica Davies foul out in regulation with Ndiaye and KeShara Scott fouling out in the overtime period. Central Missouri had 11 personal fouls

– Missouri Western outscored UCM 42-26 in the paint

– UCM scored 22 points on 15 MWSU turnovers with the Griffons scoring nine points on 14 Jennie turnovers

– Dossou Ndiaye scored a career-high 23 points, on 11-of-17 shooting from the field

– Savannah Lentz tied a career-high with five rebounds while scoring 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from three-point range

– Richardson’s two huge three pointers in the fourth quarter were a career high. She ended with 12 points

– KeShara Scott had a team-high eight rebounds

– Brittany Atkins posted career-highs with seven assists and five steals. She also scored 19 points

UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Southwest Baptist (9-6, 1-5 MIAA) in a re-scheduled game on Monday, Jan. 15. SBU came back from down 10 in the fourth quarter to win 75-70 at Northwest Missouri on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —