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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri Western’s Ong earns another MIAA Golfer of the Week honor

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced on Thursday morning that Missouri Western senior Shi Qing Ong has been named MIAA Women’s Golfer of the Week. Ong receives the recognition after winning the Holiday Inn Express Classic this week and tying for first at the Warrior Invitational in Las Vegas last week.

At the Holiday Inn Express Classic, Ong topped a leaderboard that featured 82 golfers, winning by an entire five strokes. She shot a 148 (+4) on the St. Joseph Country Club course, including a two-under 70 in the first round. She led the entire field with seven birdies while also adding 19 pars.

One week before playing a familiar course in St. Joseph, Ong and Missouri Western began the spring season at the Warrior Invitational in Las Vegas. Ong tied teammate Anna Bech for first place at the event, leading the Griffons to finish first in the team standings. Ong and the Griffons battled wind gusts that reached as high as 50 miles per hour in the second round. In the first round in Las Vegas, Ong put together a one-under par performance with a score of 71.

With her two wins this spring, Ong now has 11 in her career at Missouri Western. She and the Griffons will look to continue their early-season momentum when the team heads to the Jennies Invitational in Warrensburg on March 25.

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffon softball sweeps Northwest Missouri State

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team (15-12, 4-4) earned its first true doubleheader sweep of the season taking its series from Northwest Missouri State (3-11, 0-6) Wednesday night.

Missouri Western jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game one then fought off a Bearcat rally to win 11-8. In game two, the Griffs scratched across five runs in a bit of a pitcher’s duel to win 5-1. With the two wins, MWSU head coach Jen Bagley Trotter moved one win away from tying Rhesa Sumrell as the winningest coach in MIAA history.

GAME 1
Missouri Western 11, Northwest 8

  • A five-run first and a four-run second gave the Griffs a 9-0 lead after two innings
  • Northwest chipped away at the lead in the third and fourth before a big, 6-run sixth inning pulled the Bearcats within one
  • MWSU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth
  • The Griffons had five doubles in the game
  • Emma Hoffart had four RBIs in the game and went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run
  • Brea Blanton also homered and went 2-for-4
  • Morgan Frost was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two doubles
  • Gabi Carter went 2-for-4 and Sydni Hawkins was 2-for-3 with a double
  • Kaili Hinds improved to 7-3 on the season, going 6 1/3 total with five strikeouts

GAME 2
Missouri Western 5, Northwest 1

  • Kenzie Hilzer pitched one of her best games of the season, holding the Bearcats to one earned run on five hits. She struck out five and walked just one to move to 3-5 on the season.
  • The Griffons spread their offense around a little more, scratching out a run in the second, two in the third and two in the sixth on Northwest starter Rachel Smith
  • Smith struck out six Griffon batters in 5 2/3
  • Frost stayed hot, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and another double. She had two RBIs on a single in the sixth that put Northwest away
  • Hawkins added two more hits and was 2-for-2 at the plate

UP NEXT

  • The Griffons host the Hy-Vee Classic beginning Thursday, March 21
  • The schedule for the classic has been adjusted once again with the loss of Minot State from the field and the threat of rain over the weekend
  • Still, the Griffons will open the Classic against Northern State at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Roby lifts Nebraska over Butler 80-76 in NIT

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Isaiah Roby had a career-high 28 points as Nebraska edged past Butler 80-76 in the NIT first round on Wednesday night. James Palmer Jr. added 23 points for the Cornhuskers.

Roby shot 9 for 12 from the floor and converted 9 of 10 foul shots. He added eight rebounds.

Glynn Watson Jr. had 17 points for Nebraska (19-16). Johnny Trueblood added seven rebounds.

Sean McDermott had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs (16-17). Paul Jorgensen added 12 points. Jordan Tucker had 11 points.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western women’s basketball coach Rob Edmisson steps down

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Click here to listen to Rob Edmisson

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Head Women’s Basketball Coach Rob Edmisson has announced he is stepping down from his position effective immediately.

“After serious consideration, thought and prayer, I have decided to step down from my position as head coach at Missouri Western,” Edmisson said. “I believe at this time it is best for Missouri Western to find a new leader who can build on the success we have brought back to this program. I greatly appreciate everyone here at Missouri Western – our staff and student-athletes especially – for their dedication and support as we led the program to its resurgence. My family has tremendously enjoyed St. Joseph and the support of this community during our time at Missouri Western and we wish nothing but the best for this program, department and University in the future. Praise the Lord and Go Griffs!”

Edmisson led the program for seven seasons, compiling a 118-86 record at Missouri Western, the third most coaching wins in program history. Under his leadership, the Griffons won the 2016 MIAA Regular Season Championship and set an MIAA record with 20 conference wins that season. The 2015-16 Griffons also reached the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. It was the first of back-to-back 20-win seasons, a first for the program in 12 years.

Director of Athletics Josh Looney will immediately lead a national search for the ninth head coach in Griffon Women’s Basketball history.

“Coach Edmisson leads from his heart and placed every ounce of his personal energy into Griffon Women’s Basketball,” Looney said. “The University is very appreciative for all of the service – and success – Rob has given to Missouri Western over the past seven seasons. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Nineteen MWSU student-athletes were received All-MIAA distinction under Edmisson’s tutelage including 2016 MIAA Player of the Year LaQuinta Jefferson. The Griffons reached the postseason in six of Edmisson’s seven years, reaching the MIAA Championship quarterfinals all six times and the semifinals twice.

In 23 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Edmisson compiled 520 wins and a .728 winning percentage. He was named the eighth head women’s basketball coach at Missouri Western after winning the 2012 NAIA National Championship at Oklahoma City. Edmisson posted 15, 20-win seasons in his collegiate coaching career and just two losing seasons in 23 years. As a high school head coach, Edmisson went 110-30 in six seasons at Ellinwood, Kansas and Fairfield, Kansas. He started his coaching career at Doane College (Neb.) as an assistant coach. After playing basketball and baseball at Pratt Community College, Edmisson received his bachelor’s degree from Bethany (Kan.).

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats defeat Southern to win Central Region title, advance to NCAA DII Elite Eight

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team secured the program’s fourth trip to the Elite Eight with an 82-70 victory over Missouri Southern State University in the NCAA Central Region final Tuesday in Bearcat Arena.

Sophomore Ryan Hawkins tallied a game-high 28 points as Northwest improved to 35-0 on the season.

Hawkins carried the offense early by scoring the first 13 points of the game for the Bearcats. While Hawkins was firing on all cylinders, Missouri Southern was doing the same and built an 18-11 advantage with 11:36 to play in the first half.

“I thought the putback bucket by Hawkins was a big one for us,” Northwest head coach Ben McCollum said. “That kind of ignited us and got us going after Southern came out and had a lead.”

Hawkins rebound and score off a three-point miss from redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins ignited an 8-0 run that gave Northwest a 19-18 lead with 9:05 left before halftime.

The Bearcats other Ryan then started to heat up. Junior Ryan Welty buried three straight three-pointers on Northwest’s next three possessions. Following Welty’s third triple, Northwest held a 28-22 lead with 3:13 to play before intermission. Northwest would take a 33-24 lead into the locker room.

A pair of Hudgins free throws to open the second half put the margin into double figures where it would stay until a layup from MSSU’s Kinzer Lambert trimmed the lead to nine at 65-56 with 2:36 to play. But Northwest was able to make 13-of-14 free throws in the final 1:19 to clinch the region title.

Northwest will travel to Evansville, Indiana, and take part in the NCAA Elite Eight March 27-30. Northwest will be the No. 1 seed and will take on Mercyhurst on Wed., March 27, at 2:30 p.m. in The Ford Center.

  1. Northwest Mo. St.
  2. West Tex. A&M
  3. Queens (NC)
  4. Nova Southeastern
  5. St. Anselm
  6. Point Loma
  7. Southern Ind.
  8. Mercyhurst

The schedule for Wednesday’s quarterfinals will be:

  • 12 p.m.: (4) Nova Southeastern vs. (5) St. Anselm
  • 2:30 p.m.: (1) Northwest Mo. St. vs. (8) Mercyhurst
  • 6 p.m.: (2) West Tex. A&M vs. (7) Southern Ind.
  • 8:30 p.m.: (3) Queens (NC) vs. (6) Point Loma

NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team 
Kevin Buckingham (Southeastern)
Noah Starkey (Southern Nazarene)
Cam Martin (Missouri Southern)
Kinzer Lambert (Missouri Southern)
Ryan Hawkins (Northwest Mo. St.)
Joey Witthus (Northwest Mo. St.)

NOTES: Northwest earned trip to the Elite Eight in 2002, 2004 and 2017 … Northwest captured the NCAA Division II national championship in 2017 … Northwest improved to 17-0 at home and the Bearcats have won 66 of their last 68 home games … Northwest’s 35 wins equal the school record of wins in a season (previously set in 2016-17) … Joey Witthus has made 108 three-pointers this season equaling the school record set by Zach Schneider in 2016-17) … Trevor Hudgins set the Northwest single-season assist record and has accumulated 190 on the season … Witthus has scored 731 points this season and needs 23 more points to equal the school record for points in a season set by Justin Pitts (754 pts.) set in 2016-17.

— MWSU Athletics —

McCarthy, Missouri Western men finish 3rd at Washburn Invite

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TOPEKA, Kan. – Missouri Western Men’s Golf wrapped up play at the Washburn Invitational on Tuesday, finishing third in the team standings with a team score of 902 over three rounds. Patrick McCarthy tied for third in the field of 42, shooting 217 (+4) to lead the Griffons.

McCarthy entered Tuesday tied for the lead after shooting a tournament-best 69 (-2) in the first round. McCarthy followed that round with back-to-back scores of 74 (+3) in the final two rounds. McCarthy finished with the fourth-most birdies in the field with nine, while also scoring 34 pars.

Jett Simmons placed 14th with a 227 (+14) after shooting a 77 (+6) in the final round. Simmons’ best round came on Monday when he shot a 74 (+3) in the opening round. He also had the second-most birdies on the team with six.

Axel Johansson saved his best for last in Topeka. Johansson shot a 72 (+1) in the third round on Tuesday, the second-best single-round performance by a Griffon at the tournament.

Tom Buffington finished with a three-round score of 234, leading the team with 35 pars. Lucas Horseman finished just one stroke back of Buffington after his 76 (+5) on Tuesday.

Missouri Western Men’s Golf will compete in the Lindenwood Invitational on March 25-25 in its next event.

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons’ Ong wins second straight tournament as Western finishes 3rd at SJCC

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western’s Shi Qing Ong earned her second win in just as many tournaments this spring, as the senior took first place at the Holiday Inn Express Classic at the St. Joseph Country Club on Tuesday. This also gives Ong her 11th win at Missouri Western. As a team the Griffons placed third out of the 14 teams in the tournament with an overall score of 645.

Ong topped a leaderboard that featured 82 golfers, winning the event by an entire five strokes. Ong finished with an overall score of 148 (+4) on the familiar course of the St. Joseph Country Club. Her best round came on Monday when she shot two-under par with a 70. Ong led the field with seven birdies, three more than the next-best golfer. She also scored 19 pars and led the field by going even on par-five holes.

Anna Bech earned the third top-10 finish of her freshman season as she tied for seventh with a score of 158. Bech entered Tuesday tied for 12th and jumped five spots after shooting a 78 (+6) on Tuesday. She finished with 21 pars and was in the top-seven in both par-three and par-five scoring.

Chong Yong tied for 25th after shooting 167 over the two rounds with 17 pars. She followed her 83 (+11) score on Monday with an 84 (+12) in round two.

Jenna Kosmatka finished with a score of 172 while Sabrina Galfano shot 179.

Missouri Western Women’s Golf will travel to Warrensburg for the Jennies Invitational on March 25-26.

— MWSU Athletics —

MWSU softball changes schedule for this weekends Hy-Vee Classic

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ST. JOSEPH – Forecasted flooding in the St. Joseph area has required significant changes to the 2019 Hy-Vee Classic schedule. Due to the threat of flooding at Bill McKinney Softball Complex at Heritage Park, games will only be played at the Spring Sports Complex on the Missouri Western campus.

The abbreviated schedule also brings changes to the participating teams and the dates and times of the event. The softball classic will now begin with two games on Thursday, March 21. Five games will be played on March 22 and March 23 with four games on March 24.

UPDATED HY-VEE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
March 21
2 p.m. – Missouri Western vs Northern State
4 p.m. – Northwest Missouri vs Northern State

March 22
10 a.m. – Central Oklahoma vs Augustana (S.D.)
12 p.m. – Missouri Western vs Augustana (S.D.)
2 p.m. – Northwest Missouri vs Winona State
4 p.m. – Missouri Southern vs Northern State
6 p.m. – Missouri Southern vs Minot State

March 23
10 a.m. – Missouri Southern vs Winona State
12 p.m. – Central Oklahoma vs Northern State
2 p.m. – Central Oklahoma vs Winona State
4 p.m. – Missouri Western vs Minot State
6 p.m. – Northwest Missouri vs Augustana (S.D.)

March 24
9 a.m. – Central Oklahoma vs Minot State
11 a.m. – Northwest Missouri vs Minot State
1 p.m. – Missouri Southern vs Augustana (S.D.)
3 p.m. – Missouri Western vs Winona State

Griffons lose on a walk-off sac fly to Washburn 4-3

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ST. JOSEPH – For the first time this season, Griffon Baseball (10-9, 8-4) lost a conference series, falling 4-3 on Monday to Washburn (10-11, 5-7) to drop the series two games to one.

Playing as the home team after the series was moved from Topeka, Kansas, Washburn took advantage of its batting opportunity in the bottom of the ninth, getting a walk-off sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

NOTABLES

  • With runners on the corners and one out, Washburn won it with a sacrifice fly to center
  • Missouri Western twice rallied to tie the game, scoring two in the top of the fourth to tie the game at two and getting one in the seventh to tie the game at three
  • The Griffons left two in scoring position in the seventh and had runners on first and second in the top of the ninth
  • MWSU left seven runners on base on the day; Washburn left nine
  • It was the first of four MIAA series that went to the Griffons’ opponent
  • The loss left MWSU tied for second with Central Missouri and Emporia State in the MIAA standings

LEADERS

  • Casey Danley was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. He also stole a base and was hit by a pitch
  • Fahd Shakeel had a pair of hits
  • Carson Dwyre didn’t allow a run in four innings of relief. He struck out four, walked one and allowed four hits

UP NEXT

  • The Griffons hit the road for four-straight games
  • Missouri Western will begin a three-game series at Lindenwood (11-14, 6-6) on Friday, March 22.

— MWSU Athletics —

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