The Missouri Western women used a bid second half snapping a three game losing streak by defeating the Pittsburg State Gorillas 70-65.The Griffons had four players score in double digits with Heather Howard leading the charge with her 11th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite shooting just 38.2-percent (13-34) and never holding the lead the Griffons battled to go into halftime down 33-29. The Griffons trailed by as many as eight in the first frame but were able to make mini runs staying in the game.
The Griffons had five players score in the first frame with Howard leading the way with eight points. Brittany Griswold struggled shooting the ball in the first frame but finished with eight points after one half. The Griffons had 16 points in the paint and nine points off 10 Gorilla turnovers.
PSU shot 46.2-percent (12-26) in the half and made 6-of-9 free throws. Lizzy Jeronimus had eight points and six rebounds while Y’Cedria Devers dished out four assists.
The second half did not start out well for the Griffons missing their first four shots while the Gorillas made their first two giving them a 37-29 lead after a Jeronimus lay-up with 18:29 to play. The Griffons continued to battle using 16-9 run cutting the PSU lead to 46-45 with 10:37 to play after JaQuitta Dever hit a lay-up.
The Gorillas pushed its lead back to six after a 5-0 run but the Griffons used another run of 8-2 run tying the score at 53 after Howard hit a lay-up with 7:06 to play. Once again the Gorillas would use a mini 5-0 run claiming a five point lead with 5:32 to play.
From there the Griffons would shut down the Gorillas giving up just seven points the rest of the way. A Sharniece Lewis long range shot and three Alicia Bell free throws gave the Griffons their first lead of the game at 59-58 with 4:09 to play.
The Griffons extended their lead to 63-58 after a Griswold lay-up with 1:15 to play. The Gorillas cut the lead to two after a Jeronimus three with 1:12 to play but a Dever lay-up and four straight Griffon free throws helped MWSU seal the victory improving to 13-6 overall and 6-5 in MIAA play.
The Griffons had 17 offensive rebounds scoring 36 points in the paint and 17 second chance points. The Griffons made 28-of-71 field goals and forced 16 Gorilla turnovers. Griswold, Dever and Bell finished with 14, 14 and 11 points respectively. Bell had 8 rebounds and four assists while Howard had five blocks.
The Gorillas fall to 12-6 overall and 6-4 in MIAA play. The Gorillas made 24-of-56 field goals and 8-of-17 field goals. Jeronimus had 21 points and 10 rebounds while Morgan Westoff and Drew Roberts pitched in 14 and 11 points. Jeronimus also dished out two assists and had two steals.
The Griffons return to action on Saturday, February 2 against MIAA newcomer Northeastern State University. Game time is set for 1:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.
— MWSU Sports Information —