ST. JOSEPH – The Griffon women’s basketball team couldn’t close the final gap Thursday night in a 63-55 loss to Lindenwood.

Missouri Western (10-11, 3-9 MIAA) cut the Lindenwood (11-11, 3-10 MIAA) lead to two with 2:48 to play, but couldn’t find a way to capture its first lead of the game.

The Griffons were within a single possession for much of the second half after a 25-11 run through the end of the second quarter and much of the third quarter got the Griffons within one.

Lindenwood made a 7-0 run — all on free throws — to pull away after MWSU had cut the lead to two. Lindenwood reached its largest lead of the game, 31-16 with 2:37 left in the first half before a 9-0 run by the Griffons sparked the 25-11 spurt.

NOTABLES
– Cera Ledbetter recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds

– Melia Richardson led Missouri Western with 18 points

– The Griffons shot 38 percent (18-47) with Lindenwood shooting 41 percent (18-44)

– Missouri Western shot 69.6 percent at the free throw line and were outscored by seven at the line

– Nine Griffons played in the game, the most since Jan. 15

– Lindenwood became the first team to eclipse 60 points against the Griffons since Southwest Baptist on Jan. 15

UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Lincoln (3-18, 0-13) on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —