The Missouri Western women’s basketball team hit 18-of-20 second half free throws opening up the new year with a 78-76 road victory over MIAA newcomer Central Oklahoma. Heather Howard collected her seventh double double dumping in a season high 24 points and tying her season high with 13 rebounds. The Griffons improve to 9-2 overall and 2-1 MIAA play.
Howard came out on fire scoring 10 of the Griffons first 16 points. She hit two free throws with 12:22 to play in the first half which gave the Griffons it’s largest lead of the game at 16-6. The rest of the half belonged to the Bronchos as they started to chip away at the Griffon lead. UCO eventually caught the Griffons when Jill Bryan hit a three as time expired tying the score at 33 heading to into the locker room.
The Griffons scored 17 points off 14 first half UCO turnovers. Howard had 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting while Lanicia Lawrence had six assists and three steals. The Griffons had 24 rebounds with eight coming on the offensive end of the floor. Howard led the way with six.
The Bronchos were led by Bryan with 10 points while they made just 12-of-31 field goals.
The second half was a back and forth battle with six ties and six lead changes. The Griffons opened the half scoring seven of the first ten points giving the Griffons a 40-36 lead after an Alicia Bell layup with 18:10 to play. The Griffons and UCO continued to play close and with 6:10 to play in the game newcomer Denise White put the Griffons up 63-58 after a free throw.
UCO remained calm cutting the Griffon lead to one after a Savannah Hamilton free throw with 3:55 to play. Sharniece Lewis pushed the Griffon lead to five once again with 2:31 to play after a long range shot giving the Griffons the 73-68 lead. UCO cut the lead to two five made free throws, four by Lawrence sealed the victory for the visiting Griffons.
Three other Griffons besides Howard scored in double digits. Lawrence, Alicia Bell and Tiffanie Abrams scored 12, 10 and 11 respectively. Bell had nine rebounds while Lawrence finished with 12 assists. The Griffons shot 41-percent (25-61) from the field and 76.7-percent (23-30) from the free throw line.
The Bronchos fall to 8-3 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play. Bryan finished with 19 points while MacKenzie Solberg scored 10.
The Griffons return to action on Saturday, January 5 with a MIAA game in Joplin, Mo. against Missouri Southern. Game time is set for 5:30 pm from Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
— MWSU Sports Information —