ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team opened the MIAA and home portions of its schedules with a doubleheader sweep of Northeastern State that saw the Griffons keep the RiverHawks off the scoreboard.

Game 1: MWSU 1, Northeastern State 0 (10 innings)

In an unconventional, walk-off victory, Janie Smith moved to 7-3, shutting out Northeastern State for 10 innings. Emilie Laliberte scored on an illegal pitch with one out in the bottom of the 10th to end what seemed like a game that might go on forever. Laliberte was placed at second to lead off the inning as part of International tiebreaker rules. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kailey Green and scored with Katie Klosterman at the plate.

Smith kept Northeastern off the plate, allowing seven hits and walking six. Northeastern State stranded 11 base runners. Smith also struck out nine. No Griffon had more than one hit in the game, totaling just three on Kayce Wooldridge.

Game 2: MWSU 8, Northeastern State 0 (6 innings)

The Griffons had little trouble scoring in game two and got another shutout performance in the circle, this time from Shyanne Saladino.

Missouri Western touched RiverHawk pitching for 12 hits in less than six complete innings. Morgan Rathmann went 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Taylor Hamilton was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Katie Klosterman was 2-4 at the plate with three driven in. Saladino allowed just two hits, walking one and striking out two.

Sydney Washington drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth, the Griffons’ third run of the inning. Missouri Western scored two in the first and one each in the second, fourth and fifth.

With the win, Missouri Western improved to 12-6 on the year and 2-0 in MIAA play. The Griffons host No. 12 Central Oklahoma Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Survive and advance was a fitting moniker Thursday night in Municipal Auditorium as the top-seeded Missouri Western Women’s basketball team grinded out a 64-53 victory over seventh seeded Nebraska-Kearney in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals.

The 7th-ranked Griffons relied on stingy defense in the second half, holding Nebraska-Kearney to just six made field goals after halftime, to build a comfortable lead and avenge an earlier loss to the Lopers. Tied at 29 at the break, Missouri Western limited Nebraska-Kearney to just one made field goal in the final six minutes of the third quarter, taking a 48-40 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Griffons earned their first official quarterfinal win since 2005 with a hobbled LaQuinta Jefferson. Battling through a knee injury, Jefferson scored six points on four field goal attempts. Mhykeah Baez recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Milakere Koyamainavure led Missouri Western with 15 points. Dwanisha Tate filled in for Jefferson with 10 points, four rebounds and four steals.

The win gave Missouri Western its first win in Kansas City, officially, since 2005. The Griffons advance to the semifinals to face Emporia State at 2:15 p.m. Saturday and it’ll air live on 680 KFEQ.

— MWSU Athletics —

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team held off a ninth inning rally by Southwest Baptist to win a wild one, 16-15, Thursday in Bolivar.

The Griffons led 16-12 after the top of the ninth but allowed three Southwest Baptist runs before recording the final out. Southwest Baptist ended the game at third base when a runner tried stretching a double into a triple. Southwest Baptist seemed to have an answer for every Missouri Western flurry of runs. The Griffons opened with three runs in the first that SBU answered. The Griffons added four in the top of the fourth to go up 8-3, but SBU added a pair in the bottom of the fourth. Missouri Western was up 13-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth when SBU score four. Southwest Baptist added three more in the seventh and the three in the bottom of the ninth. Each team had 17 hits.

The run-fest made for some impressive individual hitting performances. Cosimo Cannella went 4-6 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored. Landon Mason also had four hits, going 4-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Orencio Fisher was 3-5 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored. Cannella, Jeremy Alvarado and Kody Matthews all homered in the game.

The win improved Missouri Western to 6-5 on the year and 2-2 in MIAA play. The two teams continue the series with a game on Saturday and the finale on Sunday.

— MWSU Athletics —

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team shocked the MIAA with a 70-54 win at Washburn Tuesday in the first round the MIAA Tournament that gave the program its first postseason win since 2010.

The Griffons became the first 11-seed to ever win an MIAA Tournament game with an impressive wire-to-wire victory over the sixth-seeded Ichabods. Cole Clearman set the tone early for what would be an impressive performance by the sophomore and his team. Just 15 second into the game, Clearman drained the first of what would become six made three-point field goals by the guard. Missouri Western jumped out to a 5-0 lead after Clearman’s three and never looked back. Washburn got within one with 16:08 to go in the first half, but never got closer than that again as Missouri Western took an 11-point lead to halftime.

Washburn cut the lead to nine quickly out of the break, but never got within single digits again. The Griffons made scoring a challenge for Washbburn, forcing 17 Ichabod turnovers and holding them to 35.3 percent shooting, just 16 percent in the first half. Missouri Western shot 41.2 percent from the field and made its key-10 three pointers. The team is now 8-0 this season when making 10 threes or more.

Clearman finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-11 shooting from behind the arc. Miles Wentzien added 14 points with five rebounds. Mataika Koyamainavure had a team-high eight rebounds and added nine points.

It was just the 11th win in Topeka for Missouri Western all-time and set up a third matchup this season with Missouri Southern. The Griffons will face the third-seeded Lions on Friday at noon in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western basketball’s Aaron Emmanuel has been named honorable mention All-MIAA.

The junior guard averaged 11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the regular season, helping his team to an 11-17 record, 9-13 in the MIAA, and the 11-seed in this week’s MIAA Tournament. Emmanuel also averaged 4.2 assists per game, ranking him sixth in the MIAA. His 1.9 assist/turnover ratio was fifth best in the MIAA.

Player of the Year
Justin Pitts, G, So., NWMSU

Defensive Player of the Year
Brady Skeens, F, So., WU

Freshman of the Year
Javion Blake, G, Fr., WU

Coach of the Year
Ben McCollum, NWMSU

All-MIAA First Team
Justin Pitts, G, So., NWMSU**[r2]
Connor Beranek, F, Sr., UNK**[r2]
Taevaunn Prince, G/F, Sr., MSSU**
Cory Arentsen, G/F, Sr., LWU**
Rob Davis, G, Jr., FHSU
**Unanimous Selection
[r2] Two time repeat First Team Selection

All-MIAA Second Team
Terrence Moore, G, Sr., ESU
Anthony Virdure, G, Jr., LU
Josiah Gustafson, G, Jr., PSU
Ethan Brozek, C, Sr., UNK
Conner Crooker, G, Sr., NWMSU

All-MIAA Third Team
Craig Nicholson, G, Sr., FHSU
Trey Lansman, F, So., UNK
Dom Samac, F, Sr., FHSU
Charlie Brown, G, So., MSSU
Zach Schneider, F, Jr., NWMSU

All-Defensive Team
Brady Skeens, F, So., WU
Stanislas Heili, C, Sr., LWU
Terrence Moore, G, Sr., ESU
Javis Flynn, G, Sr., PSU
Ethan Brozek, C, Sr., UNK

Honorable Mention All-MIAA
D’Marnier Cunningham, UCM
Spencer Reaves, UCM
Seth Heckart, UCO
Cornell Neal, UCO
Charles McKinney, ESU
Kevin Allen, ESU
Jaylon Smith, LU
Austin Wright, MSSU
Aaron Emmanuel, MWSU
Trey Mohair, NSU
Dakota Caudill, NSU
Chris-Ebou Ndow, NWMSU
Trey Starks, PSU
Javis Flynn, PSU
Logan Hovey, SBU
Javion Blake, WU
Brady Skeens, WU

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western softball’s Katie Klosterman has been named the MIAA Hitter of the Week.

Klosterman hit .636 and slugged 1.636 with three home runs, four RBIs and two doubles in four games this weekend. The junior third baseman has seven total hits, five for extra bases, only struck out twice and did not commit an error in the field. All her home runs came Sunday, two in game one against Sioux Falls, and another in the game against McKendree.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Four starters from the Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team have been named All-MIAA, and LaQuinta Jefferson has been chosen as the MIAA Player of the Year.

Jefferson became Missouri Western’s first MIAA Player of the Year winner since Jenny Marr was named co-MVP in 1997. Tonya Foster was the MIAA MVP in 1994 for Missouri Western. Jefferson was also a unanimous, repeat first team All-MIAA selection. The senior led the MIAA with 21.9 points per game, more than two more points per game than the second leading scorer. Jefferson was named MIAA Athlete of the Week four times this season and finished third in the conference, shooting 56 percent from the field.

Sarafina Handy was named second team All-MIAA after leading the conference in three-point field goal percentage (44.7), finishing second with 2.4 made three pointers per game and third with an 86.2 free throw percentage. Handy was an honorable mention selection in 2015.

Miliakere Koyamainavure and Chelsea Dewey were both named honorable mention. Koyamainavure finished 12th in the MIAA, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, 14th with 2.8 assists per game and fifth with 1.8 steals per game. Dewey was seventh in the MIAA with 3.9 assists per game and third with a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio.

The four selections were the most for the team since the 2006-07 season.

Player of the Year
LaQuinta Jefferson, G, Sr., MWSU

Defensive Player of the Year
Kylie Gafford, C, Sr., PSU

Freshman of the Year
Caylee Richardson, F, Fr., SBU

Co-Coaches of the Year
Tony Hobson, FHSU & Lane Lord, PSU

All-MIAA First Team
LaQuinta Jefferson, G, Sr., MWSU**[r2]
Kelly Moten, G, Jr., ESU[r2]
Mikaela Burgess, So., G, PSU
Sharese Jones, Sr., G/F, MSSU
Shelby Winkelmann, Sr., G, UCM[r2]
**Unanimous Selection
[r2] Two time repeat First Team Selection

All-MIAA Second Team
Kylie Gafford, C, Sr., PSU
Sarafina Handy, G, Sr., MWSU
Beth Bohuslavsky, G, Sr., FHSU
Laramey Becker, G, Sr., UNK
McKenzie Solberg, G, Sr., UCO

All-MIAA Third Team
Jill Faxon, G, Jr., FHSU
Kathryn Flott, F, Jr., ESU
Sandra Ngoie, F, Sr., ESU
Deb Holcomb, G, Jr., MSSU
Erika Lane, G, Jr., WU

All-MIAA Defensive Team
Kylie Gafford, C, Sr., PSU
Kelly Moten, G, Jr., ESU
Kathryn Flott, F, Jr., ESU
Laramy Becker, G, Sr., UNK
Paige Lunsford, G, Sr., FHSU

All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Ashley Jones, UCM
Julia Mason, UCO
Kelsey Barnwell, ESU
Chelsea Mason, FHSU
Nikola Kacperska, FHSU
Paige Lunsford, FHSU
Zuri Hill, LU
Kassidy Gengenbacher, LWU
Jenny Rocha, LWU
Miliakere Koyamainavure, MWSU
Chelsea Dewey, MWSU
Alexa Hogberg, UNK
Kate Bellamy, NSU
Tember Schechinger, NWMSU
Cathy Brugman, PSU
Hadyn Herlocker, PSU
Dilonna Johnson, SBU
Caylee Richardson, SBU
Felisha Gibbs, WU
Alyxis Bowens, WU

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – A ninth inning rally lifted Missouri Western baseball team to a 10-9 walk-off win over Washburn in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday at Griffon Park.

Orencio Fisher scored the winning run, beating out a throw from center field off of Kody Matthews single with one down in the bottom of the ninth. Cosimo Cannella led off the Missouri Western half of the ninth with a walk then Nick Gawley tied the game with a home run to left. Fisher drew a walk on the next at bat before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ozzie Rodriguez. That set up Matthews rope into center that scored Fisher from second on a close play at the plate.

The Griffons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but Washburn tied it in the third and took the lead with two runs in the fifth then two more in the seventh and another pair in the eighth. The Griffons scored four of their own in the bottom of the seventh.

Landon Mason led Missouri Western with four hits in four at bats for Missouri Western from the leadoff spot. Gawley went 2-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Jeremy Alvarado drove in three in his one at bat, a pinch hit three-run home run in the seventh. Preston Bailey picked up the win, pitching 2.2 innings, striking out six and walking three. He gave up three earned runs on three hits. Starter Evan Jones went the first five innings, allowing five runs on five hits.

The win improved Missouri Western to 5-5 on the year, overall, and 1-2 in MIAA play. The Griffons continue MIAA play next weekend with a three-game series at Southwest Baptist.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – A furious run in the fourth quarter helped the No. 7 Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team close an MIAA Championship season with a big win, 77-61, over Central Missouri.

Not long after the game began, Fort Hays State’s loss at Central Oklahoma clinched an outright MIAA Regular Season Championship for the Griffons. Not long after that announcement was made, Missouri Western went on an 8-0 run to take the lead over Central Missouri. But it was a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter that propelled the Griffons to the convincing regular season finale.

With the game tied at 49, Missouri Western scored 13 straight to take total control of the game and add to their MIAA record, 20 conference wins and program record, 26 regular season wins.

The Griffons were led by LaQuinta Jefferson, who scored 25 points in her final regular season game inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. All four seniors finished in double figures, including senior Miliakere Koyamainavure’s double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Mhykeah Baez added 11 points and Sarafina Handy scored 10.

The Griffons clinched the top overall seed in the MIAA Tournament and will face the winner of the eight-nine matchup on Thursday, March 3 at 6 p.m. in Kansas City, Missouri’s Municipal Auditorium. Southwest Baptist drew the nine seed and will play at eighth seeded Nebraska-Kearney on Monday, Feb. 29.

— MWSU Athletics —