Western women snap six-game skid with win over Northwest

A 20-6 second half run helped the Griffon women to a 62-51 victory over rival Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday night in the fieldhouse. Western snapped a six game losing streak earning their first MIAA victory of the season. Brittany Griswold finished with a game high 17 points as Western improves to 3-8 overall and 1-5 in MIAA action.

For the fourth time this season the Griffons took a lead into the half. Western shot 34.4-percent (11-32) in the first frame taking a 34-26 lead into the locker room. The last time Western led at the half was on December 7 against Missouri Southern by a score of 31-27.

The Griffons led by as many as 12 points at 30-18 after a Griswold jumper with 3:25 to play. The Bearcats closed on an 8-4 run cutting the lead to eight at the half. Giswold led the charge for Western with nine points while Jessica Koch and Alicia Bell dumped in eight apiece.

The Bearcats were led by Tara Roach and Maggie Marnin as they dumped in eight points apiece in the first half.

Western came out on fire in the second half scoring the first nine points of the frame opening up a 19 point lead at 45-26 after two Griswold free throws with 17:34 to play. The Griffons continued to play well pushing their lead to 24 two different times before the Bearcats closed on a 19-6 run cutting the Griffons final lead to 11.

Koch finished with her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Bell finished with 10 points while the Griffons outrebounded the Bearcats 51-46 in the game. Western also had 24 points in the paint to Northwest’s 12 and 23 points off 20 Bearcat turnovers.

Northwest drops to 2-11 overall and 0-6 in MIA A play. The Bearcats were led by Marnin and Roach as they dumped in 11 apiece.

The Griffons return home on Saturday, January 7 to take on the Lincoln Blue Tigers in MIAA action. Game time is set for 1:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse. This will mark the second of a three game home stand for the Griffons. If you can make the game listen to all the action on 680 AM KFEQ.

— MWSU Sports Information —