ST. JOSEPH – The 17th-ranked Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team hung on for a 63-61 win over Missouri Southern Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.  The win gives the Griffons the program’s first official 4-0 start in MIAA play since the 1997-98 season.

Missouri Western hit 9-0 in an MIAA slugfest that went down to the wire. The Griffons’ largest lead came with 4:58 remaining in the game, nine points. That lead was whittled to one with three seconds left. Sarafina Handy made one of her two free throws to ice the victory. Missouri Western was limited to 34 percent shooting from the field for the game, 27.3 from behind the arc. Missouri Western shot 33 free throws in the game, making 26. Missouri Southern shot 22, making 16.

LaQuinta Jefferson scored 24 for the second game in a row and added four rebounds. Milakere Koyamainavure added 13 points and four rebounds. Mhykeah Baez led the Griffons on the glass with nine rebounds. Julia Torres and Dwanisha Tate each had six.

The Griffons hit the road next week with a trip to Lindenwood on Dec. 18 and Lincoln on Dec. 20.

— MWSU Athletics —