The Missouri Western women’s basketball team played a solid first half and held off a strong Lindenwood comeback in the second to pick up the win 65-62 Saturday afternoon at MWSU Fieldhouse.
The Griffons jumped out to a 38-20 lead after the first half behind Quenisha Lockett’s 11-point half. Along with Lockett, Tiffanie Abrams scored nine points to help the Griffons take control. Abrams scored the first six points of the game, and both players went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in the first half. The second half saw the Griffons, who were 10 of 14 from the charity stripe as a team in the opening half, struggle with freebies.
Lindenwood stormed out of the break and went on a 20-6 run in the first nine minutes of the second frame. Abrams’ layup around the 11-minute mark ended a Lions’ 14-0 run that put them back in the ballgame.
Both teams swapped baskets in the second portion of the final half, and the game eventually settled even at 51 after Kassidy Gengenbacher laid the ball in and received a free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play.
Tiara Hall and Lanicia Lawrence added two points apiece to give the Griffons another four-point lead, but after another Gengenbacher layup, the Lions were back within two.
Free throws from Jallisa Lewis, JaQuitta Dever and Abrams held off the Lions’ comeback, and Lindenwood guard Dru Haetling’s 3-pointer came with just one second left on the clock as the Griffons completed the win 65-62.
The Griffons (9-10, 4-8 MIAA) are now just one game back of the Lions (10-9, 5-7) in the standings. The win gives the Griffons their second-straight win as they head to Maryville, Mo. Wednesday night to play Northwest Missouri State.
Abrams played solid all night with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. The senior also went 8-for-9 on free throws. The Griffons were just 5 of 20 from the 3-pointer line, but were helped by Lindenwood’s 22 turnovers, which included 17 in the first half, which resulted in 20 points off turnovers and 24 overall. Missouri Western’s bench added 42 of its 65 points on the night.
— MWSU Sports Information —