We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri Western women cruise past Livin’ the Dream in exhibition play

Posted on

MWSUMissouri Western women defeated Livin’ the Dream in its opening game at MWSU Fieldhouse 98-77. The Griffons open up their first regular season contest this Saturday against Chadron State with a 1 p.m. tip-off.

If they can shoot the ball like they did Tuesday night, they should continue to make progress.

Coming off a 16-win season that produced 10 more wins than the season prior, the Griffons shot nearly 47 percent on the night. Tiara Hall had a double-double in her first action as a Griffon, gong 7-for-8 with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Countering her efforts was Quenisha Lockett, who was 5 of 8 with 12 points and six boards.

Missouri Western collected 54 rebounds total compared to the Dream’s 33. The Dream were led by Ashley Birch and Cassondra Boston. Birch shot 63 percent and scored 19 points. Cassondra Boston had a team-high 24 points going 9-for-20.

For the Griffons, coach Rob Edmisson’s second season starts as he used 16 players in his rotation. JaQuitta Dever produced a team-high 10 assists. Ariana Novak started her first game in a Missouri Western uniform and led the team with 16 points and four steals. A transfer from Malcolm X College, Novak was 4 of 7 from the 3-point line.

The game broke open midway through the first half. Alex Saxen nailed a 3 to move the Griffons to a double-digit lead 26-14 with 8 minutes, 7 seconds left in the frame. From there, the Griffons didn’t let it go back to singles, and led 45-32 at the break.

In the second half, the Griffons took their biggest lead of the game with 7:19 to play. Lcokett put in a layup to go up 88-59. The Dream brought the game a little closer later on, but never threatened the Griffons. Dever’s two free throws followed three points by their opponents to mark the score 98-77.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest volleyball loses at Central Missouri in four sets

Posted on

Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State volleyball team fell to the University of Central Missouri, 3-1, on Tuesdayevening at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The loss drops the Bearcats to 11-16 overall and 5-9 in MIAA play. Central Missouri improves to 27-1 on the season and 13-1 in conference action.

UCM was able to pull away in the first set, 25-19, after Northwest had tied the set early at 10-10. The Bearcats challenged the Jennies throughout the second set, drawing the set to a 20-20 tie late. But UCM was again able to find enough points to go into the break up, 2-0, with a 25-22 victory.

Northwest’s best set came in the third, winning 25-20. The Bearcats scored five of the last seven points of the set, finished off by a pair of kills from sophomore Shelby Duren. The Bearcats were unable to withstand a UCM rally early in the fourth set and dropped the point, 25-15.

Duren led the way with 12 kills and 10 digs for the Bearcats. Junior BrookeBartosh had 11 kills and two blocks. Junior Kirsten Hudgens had 23 assists and senior Bridget Hanafin added 18 assists and 12 digs. Junior Bailey Vance had 23 digs.

Northwest returns to action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest against Nebraska-Kearney at Bearcat Arena.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Eric Hosmer named 2013 Royals Player of the Year

Posted on

RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals announced today that first baseman Eric Hosmer has been named the 2013 Les Milgram Royals Player of the Year.  The award was voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Hosmer, 24, earned his first Les Milgram Player of the Year award after leading the team with a .302 batting average with a career-high 34 doubles, 17 homers and 79 RBI.  He paced the American League with 60 multi-hit games, which were tied for the fifth-most in Royals history.

Kansas City’s first-round selection in 2008, Hosmer ranked seventh in the league in hits (188), ninth in overall batting average (.302) and sixth in batting average vs. left-handed pitching (.323).

On May 18, he was batting .244 with 4 doubles, a homer and 11 RBI, but from May 19 on, he hit .317 with a Major League-leading 156 hits, 30 doubles, 16 homers, 68 RBI and a .484 slugging percentage.

Hosmer was selected as the Majestic Royals Player of the Month three times (June, July and August) during the season, while he hit over .300 in each of the last four months of the year, including .324 in July and September.

— Royals Media Relations —

Jayhawks’ Wiggins named to Oscar Robertson Trophy watch list

Posted on

KUThe preseason accolades keep rolling in for Kansas men’s basketball guard Andrew Wiggins as he was named to the 2013-14 Oscar Robertson Trophy Preseason Watch List selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) board of directors Tuesday afternoon. The award is to be presented to the national player of the year by its namesake.

A freshman of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, Wiggins was one of 15 named to the Oscar Robertson preseason list. On Monday, Nov. 4, Wiggins was named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team and he and teammate Wayne Selden, Jr., were named to the 10-man Wayman Tisdale Award Preseason Watch List, which is presented to the national freshman of the year, also selected by the USBWA.

The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2013, Wiggins averaged 23.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocked shots and 2.5 steals while at Huntington Prep in West Virginia last season. Wiggins was the Gatorade Boys High School Basketball Player of the Year and later the Gatorade Boys Athlete of the Year. He is a consensus preseason All-America selection and the Preseason National Player of the Year by CBSSports.com.

Kansas continues exhibition play when it hosts Fort Hays State Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks open regular-season action when the Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks visit Lawrence on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.

2013-14 OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Pos. Player, School (Ht., Wt., Yr., Hometown)
G Jahii Carson, Arizona State (5-10, 180, So., Mesa, Ariz.)
G Aaron Craft, Ohio State (6-2, 195, Sr., Findlay, Ohio)
F C.J. Fair, Syracuse (6-8, 215, Sr., Baltimore, Md.)
F Aaron Gordon, Arizona (6-9, 225, Fr., San Jose, Calif.)
G Gary Harris, Michigan State (6-4, 210, So., Fishers, Ind.)
G Joe Harris, Virginia (6-6, 225, Sr., Chelan, Wash.)
F Doug McDermott, Creighton (6-8, 225, Sr., Ames, Iowa)
F Mitch McGary, Michigan (6-10, 255, So., Chesterton, Ind.)
G Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (6-1, 180, Sr., Roxbury, Mass.)
F Jabari Parker, Duke (6-8, 235, Fr., Chicago, Ill.)
C Adreian Payne, Michigan State (6-10, 245, Sr., Dayton, Ohio)
F Julius Randle, Kentucky (6-9, 250, Fr., Dallas, Texas)
G Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State (6-4, 220, So., Flower Mound, Texas)
G Russ Smith, Louisville (6-0, 165, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.)
G Andrew Wiggins, Kansas (6-8, 200, Fr., Vaughan, Ont.)

— KU Sports Information —

Chiefs activate Commings from IR; waive McDougald

Posted on

riggertChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that the club has activated defensive back Sanders Commings from injured reserve and waived safety Bradley McDougald.

Commings (6-0, 223) joined the Chiefs as the club’s fifth-round pick (134th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft and has spent the first nine weeks of the 2013 season on injured reserve with the designation to return. He appeared in 54 games (35 starts) at Georgia, recording 154 tackles (113 solo), 1.0 sack (-7.0 yards), six tackles for loss, three QB pressures, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He added eight interceptions and 17 passes defensed. Commings was a multi-sport standout at Westside High School in Augusta, Ga. While in high school, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 37th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft.

McDougald (6-1, 209) has appeared in one contest on special teams, has been active for one game but did not play, has been inactive in four games and has spent three weeks on the club’s practice squad after originally entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs in 2013. He played in 47 games (33 starts) at the University of Kansas, seeing action on both sides of the ball. He recorded 194 tackles (148 solo), 16 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks, six interceptions and three forced fumbles. He also had 52 catches for 558 yards (10.7 avg.) with one touchdown and six rushes for 31 yards. He prepped at Scioto High School in Columbus, Ohio, earning second-team all-district honors.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Griffons drop to No. 9 in Super Region Three poll

Posted on

riggertMissouriWesternThe Missouri Western football team sits in  9th place in the first Super Region Three rankings which was released Monday afternoon.

Four other MIAA schools are ranked in the poll with Northwest Missouri State sitting in 1st, Pittsburg State 6th, Washburn 8th and Emporia State 7th.

The top two teams in the region get a bye in the first week of the playoffs while four will host five and three will host six on Saturday, November 23.

The Griffons region consisst of teams from the Northern Sun Incollegiate Conference, Great American Conference and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

The Griffons continue MIAA play on Saturday, November 9 when they travel to Topeka, Kan. to take on the 15th ranked Washburn Ichabods. Game time is set for 1:00 pm from Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl.

SUPER REGION THREE
1     Northwest Missouri State     9-0     9-0
2     Minnesota State Mankato     9-0     9-0
3     Minnesota-Duluth     8-1     8-1
4     St. Cloud State     8-1     8-1
5     Henderson State     9-0     9-0
6     Pittsburg State     7-1     8-1
7     Emporia State     8-0     8-0
8     Washburn     8-1     8-1
9     Missouri Western State     7-2     7-2
10     Harding     6-2     6-2

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest’s Adams earns MIAA offensive Player of the Week honor

Posted on

NWMSUNorthwest Missouri State senior quarterback Trevor Adams was named the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week in an announcement made by the league office on Monday.Adams helped lead the No. 2 ranked Bearcats to a 52-21 victory over then-No. 8 Washburn on Saturday.

Against the Ichabods, Adams put together one of his most complete performances of the season. The Odessa, Texas, native completed 23-of-27 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with nine different receivers on the day as Northwest moved to 9-0 on the season. His 85.1 completion percentage was the fourth highest single-game mark in Bearcat history. It was also the fourth time Adams has thrown for over 300 yards in his career.

Adams becomes the third Northwest player to earn weekly honors from the MIAA this season. Brandon Dixon (Week 1) and Matt Longacre (Week 4) were both earned defensive awards this season.

Northwest will play at undefeated Emporia State on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. at Welch Stadium.

— Northwest Sports Information —

KU’s Wiggins named to preseason AP All-America team

Posted on

KUKansas freshman Andrew Wiggins was named to the Associated Press’ 2013-14 Preseason All-America team, released Monday. The AP team is voted on by a 65-member national media panel.

Additionally, Wiggins and teammate Wayne Selden, Jr., have been named to the 10-man Wayman Tisdale Award Preseason Watch List, which is presented to the national freshman of the year by the United States Basketball Writers of America (USBWA), the organization announced Monday.

Wiggins becomes the second freshman to earn Associated Press Preseason All-America honors since the team was first selected for the 1986-87 season. He joins Harrison Barnes of North Carolina in 2010-11 as the only freshmen to earn the preseason accolade.

Joining Wiggins on the AP 2013-14 Preseason All-America team are Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State), Doug McDermott (Creighton), Russ Smith (Louisville) and Mitch McGary (Michigan). Prior to Wiggins, the most recent Jayhawk to be named to the AP Preseason All-America team was eventual Consensus All-America selection Sherron Collins in 2009-10. Jeff Withey, Thomas Robinson and Marcus Morris were all named AP Preseason All-America honorable mention during their time as a Jayhawk.

The USBWA Wayman Tisdale Award began in 1988-89 and was named in Tisdale’s honor three seasons ago. Joining Selden and Wiggins on the list, which was chosen by the USBWA’s board of directors, are Tyler Ennis (Syracuse), Aaron Gordon (Arizona), Aaron Harrison (Kentucky), Andrew Harrison (Kentucky), Kasey Hill (Florida), Jabari Parker (Duke), Julius Randle (Kentucky) and James Young (Kentucky). Last season, Kansas’ Ben McLemore was one of 10 finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award.

The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2013, Wiggins averaged 23.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocked shots and 2.5 steals while at Huntington Prep in West Virginia last season. The Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, native was the Gatorade Boys High School Basketball Player of the Year and later the Gatorade Boys Athlete of the Year. Wiggins is a consensus preseason All-America selection and the Preseason National Player of the Year by CBSSports.com.

Like Wiggins, Selden was a 2013 McDonald’s All-American who averaged 24.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists last year at the Tilton School in New Hampshire. The Roxbury, Mass., native ended his senior year ranked No. 12 by rivals.com and No. 14 by ESPN100.

Kansas continues exhibition play when it hosts Fort Hays State Tuesday, at 7 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks open regular-season action when the Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks visit Lawrence on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.

— KU Sports Information —

Western falls to No. 22 in latest AFCA Top 25 football poll

Posted on

riggertMissouriWesternAfter falling 35-30 last week against No. 10 Emporia State the Missouri Western football team dropped ten more spots to 22nd in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll. The Griffons are 7-2 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play.

Among other MIAA schools, Northwest Missouri State is ranked No. 2 while Pittsburg State is 6th, Emporia State is 10th and Washburn is 15th.

Missouri Western has been ranked in the top 25 in the last 29 polls and has received votes in 49 of the last 50 polls by the American Football Coaches Association.

The Griffons return to action this week with a top-25 battle against the #15 Washburn Ichabods. It will be the Griffons final road trip of the regular season. Game time is set for 1:00 pm in Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl in Topeka, Kan.

Click here to see the AFCA Top 25 poll.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Greg Holland named Royals’ Pitcher of the Year

Posted on

RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals have announced that right-handed reliever Greg Holland has been named the 2013 Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year.  The award was voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Holland, who will turn 28 on November 20, earned his second consecutive Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year award after a record-setting season.  The North Carolina native set a franchise mark with 47 saves, topping the previous best of 45 by Dan Quisenberry (1983) and Jeff Montgomery (1993).

Holland made his first All-Star team while finishing third in the Majors in saves.  He led MLB with 40 saves from May 30 to the end of the season and converted 31 opportunities in a row from May 30 to September 3.  His 1.21 ERA set a club record for a reliever, besting Montgomery’s 1.37 mark in 1989.

Holland’s 103 strikeouts matched a 42-year old club record for a reliever while his 13.84 strikeouts per 9.0 innings topped his own franchise best from 2012.  Holland was named MLB Delivery Man of the Month for July and September along with Royals Pitcher of the Month in May, June and July.

— Royals Media Relations —

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File