The Missouri Western women’s basketball team came up short against Missouri Southern Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse, losing to the Lions 68-61. It was their first home conference loss since Jan. 4.

The Griffons fell behind early in the first half and stayed behind for the majority of the frame. The Griffons were down 6-4 with 16:31 left and trailed until Sharniece Lewis knocked down a 3-pointer with 48 seconds to go in the half. The trey put Missouri Western up 36-34, and the Griffons led the rest of the half.

After Lewis’ 3, Lions’ guard Nicole Hartzog made two free throws. Then Alex Saxen knocked down a free throw before Tanner Tripp grabbed a steal with two seconds left and was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer. The freshman made all three of her free throws as the Griffons went into halftime ahead 40-36.

Neither team scored until the 17:35 mark in the second half when Missouri Southern’s Shonte Clay put in a layup. JaQuitta Dever’s free throws followed by Tiffanie Abrams’ layup put the Griffons ahead 44-38, their largest lead of the game, with 16:33 remaining.

But Missouri Southern crept back into the game. And after the Griffons led for the following seven minutes, the Lions took the lead back with Hartzog’s three free throws with 9:30 left on the clock.

The Lions kept the lead the rest of the way, Hartzog secured the game with solid free-throw shooting. She went 13 of 16 from the charity stripe. Hartzog led the Lions with 16 points.

Missouri Western was led by Lewis, who was 7 of 8 with 21 points and 3-for-3 on triples. Alexis Gray scored 14 points and collected eight rebounds with four blocks, both games highs. Gray’s 14 points, four blocks and eight boards were also a career high.

The Griffons are now 9-13 and 4-11 in the MIAA. Missouri Southern sits at 16-9 and 10-5 in the conference. The Griffons return to the court Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. in Jefferson City against Lincoln.

— MWSU Sports Information —