MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team (13-14, 8-10) officially clinched its spot in the MIAA Championships with a 66-56 win at Northwest Missouri State (7-20, 3-15) on Tuesday night.

Down by three at halftime (33-30), Missouri Western held Northwest to just 23 second half points and shot 68 percent in the half to run away with the rivalry win.

NOTABLES

• After Northwest went 6-of-11 from three-point range in the first half, the Griffons held the Bearcats to 1-of-5 from long range in the second half
• Overall, the Griffon D held Northwest to 37 percent shooting in the second half on just 19 shots
• MWSU came out of the gate red-hot, jumping out to a 10-2 lead, but Northwest rallied back to tie the game at 10 then take a 13-12 lead
• Missouri Western went to the line just nine times in the game, but made eight
• The Griffons out-scored the Bearcats by 16 in the paint (38-22)
• Missouri Western and Central Oklahoma both won Tuesday night, securing the entire 10-team field for the MIAA Women’s Basketball Championships
• The regular season will have to play out to determine final seeding

LEADERS

• Katrina Roenfeldt led the Griffons with 18 points, seven steals and five assists
• Brittany Atkins scored 17 on 8-of-11 shooting and added five rebounds
• Jessica Davies also had five rebounds to go with 10 points

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western ends the regular season, Saturday, at Washburn (18-8, 13-4).

— MWSU Athletics —