ST. JOSEPH – For the first time in program history, the Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team is 14-0 after a thrilling 77-69 victory over Central Oklahoma Monday night inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

No. 16 Missouri Western trailed at the break but opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take back the lead. Two second half three pointers from Sarafina Handy helped seal the deal for the Griffons. Trailing by two with 2:47 left in the third, Handy sunk a three from Chelsea Dewey to give Missouri Western the lead back. Handy nailed another triple with 2:15 remaining in the game to stretch a four-point Griffon lead to seven. Handy was fouled on the attempt and made the penalty shot to give the Griffons an eight-point lead. Central Oklahoma closed the gap to four with 31 seconds remaining but two Handy free throws iced the Griffons’ eighth MIAA victory of the season.

Handy finished with 21 points to lead Missouri Western. LaQuinta Jefferson had her six-game streak of 24 points or more broken but still scored 19 with three rebounds and four assists. Mhykeah Baez dropped 17, led the Griffons with 10 rebounds and had four steals. Dewey scored 11 with five assists.

The win for Missouri Western set up a rivalry matchup Saturday between an undefeated Griffon squad and a Northwest Missouri State team in search of its first MIAA victory of the season.

— MWSU Athletics —