JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (11-10, 6-6 MIAA) used tough late-game defense to pull away from Lincoln (9-12, 1-11 MIAA) in a 68-59 victory on Thursday night. After the Missouri Western lead fell to just three points with 2:35 remaining, the Griffons held Lincoln to just one made field goal on its final eight possessions.

NOTABLES

• Missouri Western shot 69 percent en route to a 23-point first quarter. Katrina Roenfeldt nearly outscored the Blue Tigers on her own, with 11 points in the quarter.
• The Griffons survived a nine-point second quarter to hang on to a 32-28 lead going into halftime.
• The Griffons used a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 46-34 late in the third quarter.
• Brittany Atkins took charge of the Griffon offense in the fourth, scoring 12 points in the final period.
• Both teams found their stride in the fourth quarter offensively, combining for 41 points on 50 percent shooting.
• The Griffons made 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
• The Blue Tigers had a significant advantage in points in the paint, outscoring the Griffons 40-24.
• Lincoln never led the Griffons on Thursday, only managing to tie the game once in the second quarter.

LEADERS

• Atkins finished with a season-high 24 points and nine rebounds.
• Roenfeldt was the Griffons’ second-leading scorer with 15 points while also grabbing seven rebounds.
• Jessica Davies added 12 points on an efficient 6-8 shooting.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western Women’s Basketball will remain on the road for its next game in a matchup with Lindenwood (15-4, 9-3 MIAA) on Feb. 9.
• The Lions bested the Griffons by 14 points in the teams’ first meeting this season.

— MWSU Athletics —