ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team stayed in the top-10 this week, moving up one spot to No. 8 in the WBCA/USA Today poll.

The Griffons have been in the top-10 since early January and are in the midst of the most successful season for the program in more than a decade. The team’s 21 wins are the most since the 2003-04 season and the 18-game winning streak to open the season was the program’s best ever. Head coach Rob Edmisson’s team is on pace to win more MIAA games than any team in program history.

Missouri Western is one of three programs from the NCAA Central Region in this week’s top-10. MIAA foe Fort Hays State checked in at No. 5 and Winona State from the NSIC is on Missouri Western’s heels at No. 9. Also representing the region in the poll are No. 15 Arkansas Tech, No. 21 Emporia State, No. 23 Pittsburg State and No. 25 Sioux Falls. The Griffons defeated Fort Hays State and Emporia State in the only scheduled games between the schools earlier this season. Missouri Western split two games against Pittsburg State and will not face another team currently ranked in the top-25 in the regular season.

The Griffons play the first of three-straight on the road, Feb. 11 at Northeastern State followed by trips to Central Oklahoma (Feb. 13) and Northwest Missouri State (Feb. 20). Missouri Western will conclude the regular season with home games against Washburn (Feb. 24) and Central Missouri (Feb. 27). The Griffons currently lead the MIAA by a half game over Fort Hays State. With a spot in the MIAA Tournament already clinched, the Griffons can secure a spot in the top-four with one more win. The top four seeds receive a bye in the first round of the tournament and play their first games in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium on March 3.

— MWSU Athletics —

RUSSELVILLE, Ark. – The Missouri Western baseball team didn’t have much trouble getting on base Sunday at Arkansas Tech but bringing runners home proved challenging in a 7-6 game three loss to the Wonder Boys.

The Griffons piled up 11 hits but left 16 runners on base, going 5-23 with runners on and 3-14 with runners in scoring position. Missouri Western stayed off the board until the top of the fourth, scoring three, but Arkansas Tech added five it its half of the fourth. The Griffons would mount one more run in the fifth and two in the sixth but the late rally came up short.

David Glaude opened the fifth with a solo homer to right and Brandon Downs brought two home with a ground out to first that put MWSU up 3-2 headed to the bottom of the fifth. A big inning from the Wonder Boys in their half of the inning culminated and a three-run double that put Arkansas Tech back up 7-3.

Nick Gawley hit a two out, RBI single to center in the sixth that got Missouri Western closer. Downs was the first to score in the seventh, coming home on a bases loaded wild pitch with one out. Orencio Fisher picked up a sacrifice fly to pull the Griffons within one on the pitch after Downs scored. Glaude would follow with a walk, bringing Cosimo Cannella to the plate with the tying run on third, bases loaded, two out. Cannella grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

Conner Schwienbart took the loss. He pitched into the fifth, giving up five runs on nine hits. The transfer walked two and struck out one. Glaude was as triple short of hitting for the cycle, going 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Downs was 2-4 with two driven in and Gawley went 2-5.

The loss dropped MWSU to 1-2 on the season. The Griffons return to Arkansas next weekend, playing four games in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

— MWSU Athletics —

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team finished the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational 2-2 after another split on day two Sunday. The No. 16 Griffons lost game one 9-6 to Arkansas-Monticello and defeated Harding for the second time in two days, 4-1, in game two.

Game 1: Arkansas-Monticello 9, #16 MWSU 6

Two, four-run innings by Arkansas-Monticello doomed Janie Smith and the Griffons in a 9-6 loss to open day two at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational.

UAM chipped away at Smith for four in the top of the third and used a grand slam to add four more in the fifth, scoring all but one of its runs in those two innings. Smith would surrender another run, her ninth earned, in the seventh on an RBI single. The senior fell to 1-1 on the season, allowing 11 hits, striking out four and walking two in seven innings of work.

Freshman Taylor Hamilton drove in two of the Griffon runs, including her first home run as a Griffon in the third. She put MWSU up 1-0 in the first with a sacrifice fly to center. Shelbie Atwell made it 3-0 Missouri Western in the first with a 2-RBI double to left. Kailey Green’s RBI-double and Paige Shifflett’s RBI-single in the sixth pulled the Griffons within two, but that would be the end of the scoring for Missouri Western in the game.

Shifflett and Atwell both finished the game 2-4 at the plate. Atwell drove in two and Shifflett added an RBI and a run scored.

Game 2: #16 MWSU 4, Harding 1

The Griffons used a little small ball to scratch out four runs and Shyanne Saladino held off a rally attempt by Harding for Missouri Western’s second win over Harding in two days.

Neither team scored through the first three innings, then the Griffons went up 2-0 in the fourth on a sacrifice bunt, RBI by Shifflett and an RBI-single from Hamilton. Green added an RBI-single in the top of the seventh and Megan Korgie followed Green’s RBI with one of her own on a bunt single.

With two down in the bottom of the seventh, Harding had the tying run at the plate with runners on second and third but Saladino got the batter to strike out looking to end the game. Saladino finished with five strikeouts, allowing just one unearned run on six hits and a walk to move to 1-1 on the year.

No Griffon finished with more than one hit and Katie Klosterman’s double in the seventh was the team’s only extra-base hit.

Missouri Western will see Harding again next weekend when it plays at the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Griffons will play six games in three days beginning on Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The No. 9-ranked Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team rebounded from a cold first quarter to dominate Lincoln for the next three on the way to an 82-51 win over the Blue Tigers Saturday in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons shot little better than 20 percent from the field in the first quarter and went into the second tied at 14 with Griffon Hall of Famer Nicole Collier’s team. From there, Missouri Western turned on the after burners, outscoring Lincoln 26-11 in the second; 20-15 in the third; and 22-11 in the fourth. The Griffons finished with a 50.8 field goal shooting percentage on the night, including 62.5 percent from behind the arc. Missouri Western held Lincoln to a 29.4 field goal shooting percentage and forced 19 Lincoln turnovers.

Miliakere Koyamainavure led Missouri Western, scoring a career-high 22 points and pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds. Julia Torres also finished with a double-double, scoring 11 and adding 10 rebounds. LaQuinta Jefferson finished with 19 points and five rebounds. Chelsea Dewey finished with seven points, six assists and five rebounds.

The win moved Missouri Western to 21-1 on the season and 15-2 in the MIAA. It’s the most wins in a season for the program since going 21-9 in 2003-04. Next week Missouri Western heads to Oklahoma for rematches with Northeastern State on Feb. 11 and Central Oklahoma on Feb. 13. The Griffon defeated both teams in St. Joseph earlier this season.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team held off a late charge to pick up its second straight win, 76-68 over Lincoln Saturday in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western led by 16 with 4:04 to go, but Lincoln cut the lead to five with 32 seconds left on a 13-2 run. The Griffons scored the final three points, all on free throws to ice the game and give Missouri Western a season split with the Blue Tigers.

Lincoln started the game on a roll, jumping out to an 18-6 lead with 14:55 to go in the first half. Missouri Western closed the half on a 38-15 run that included nine made threes to take a 41-33 lead to halftime. The Griffons went 1-11 from behind the arc in the second half, but the 10th three moved the team to 6-0 this season when it makes 10 or more three pointers. Missouri Western shot 40.7 percent from the field and out-rebounded Lincoln 41-34.

Trey Sampson led the Griffons with 22 points on 5-12 shooting from three point range. Currie Byrd added 14 on 4-5 shooting from the field. Mataika Koyamainavure had a team-high seven rebounds and Cole Clearman finished with four assists.

The win improved Missouri Western to 8-15 overall and 6-11 in the MIAA and lifted the team into 10th place in the MIAA standings, the final spot that will qualify for the MIAA Tournament. Lincoln fell to 12-11 and 8-9. The Griffons go to Oklahoma next week to face Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The ninth-ranked Missouri Western Women’s basketball team broke a streak of nail biters with a 93-50 win over Lindenwood Thursday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western had not played a game decided by less than nine points since its 13-point win at Washburn on Jan. 16. Hot shooting from start to finish and smothering defense in the second half helped the Griffons to the convincing victory, the team’s 20th of the season.

Missouri Western took a 46-32 lead to halftime after shooting 61.3 percent from the field over the first two quarters. The Griffons outscored Lindenwood 20-10 in the third quarter and 27-8 in the fourth, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and holding Lindenwood to 25 percent shooting from the field in the second half. Missouri Western also forced the Lions into 31 turnovers, 21 of them steals for the Griffons.

LaQuinta Jefferson led Missouri Western once again with 27 points and added three assists. Sarafina Handy scored 13 on 3-4 shooting from three point range and also adding three assists. Chelsea Dewey led the Griffons with four assists and had 11 points along with Miliakere Koyamainavure, who had a team-high six rebounds.

The win gave Missouri Western a 20-win season for the first time since the 2004-05 season and improved the team’s MIAA record to 14-2, its most conference wins since 2001-02. The Griffons stay at home this weekend, hosting Lincoln on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team ended a three-game losing streak and halted Lindenwood’s three-game winning streak with an 88-78 win Thursday night over the MIAA’s second place team.

Missouri Western set the tone early, opening the game with four straight three pointers, three of them from freshman Miles Wentzien. Lindenwood roared back to take a one-point lead with 11:57 to go in the first half, but would not lead again the rest of the night. The Griffons finished 10-15 (66.7%) from behind the arc, shot 52 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line. On the other end, Missouri Western limited Lindenwood to 17.4 percent shooting from long range and 41.3 percent from the field.

Wentzien finished with a career-high 21 points on 5-9 shooting from the field. The freshman added six rebounds. Trey Sampson was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc, finishing with 19 points, four assists and four rebounds. Xavier Newson added 14 points and Aaron Emmanuel finished with 11 and a team-high seven rebounds.

The win moved Missouri Western’s record to 7-15 overall and 5-11 in the MIAA. Lindenwood fell to 15-7 and 11-5 in the league. The Griffons stay in the Fieldhouse this week with Lincoln visiting on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western football coach Jerry Partridge has announced the Griffon’s 2016 signing class.

Twenty-four future Griffons signed national letters of intent to play football at Missouri Western. The class features student athletes from six different states.

Partridge is entering his 20th season as head coach at his alma mater. Last season the Griffons posted a 6-5 record, the team’s 11th straight season at .500 or better.

Tyler Burrus
5-11, 210 | Linebacker | St. Louis, Missouri | Affton HS
“I love Tyler,” Partridge said. “He finds the ball and is an excellent leader.”

Kyle Berry
6-1, 165 | Defensive Back/Wide Receiver | St. Louis, Missouri | Affton HS
“Kyle can play either side of the ball,” Partridge said. “Our coaches are fighting over him already.”

Andrew Long
6-4, 230 | Tight End | Columbia, Missouri | Father Tolton Catholic HS
“Andrew has an excellent frame with good hands and he runs well,” Partridge said. “He will create matchup problems.”

Ben Ferkin
6-1, 210 | Quarterback | Waukee, Iowa | Waukee HS
“He can really spin it and also runs well,” Partridge said. “He has a real presence about him. A great get out of the great state of Iowa.”

Dennis Barber
6-6, 305 | Offensive Line | Florissant, Missouri | McCluer North HS
“A gigantic young man with dancing bear feet and an operatic voice,” Partridge said. “If he reaches his potential he could be a great one.”

Jaylen Bohannon
6-3, 210 | DL/LB | St. Louis, Missouri | Soldan International Studies HS
“Jaylen has the potential to be a great pass rusher.” Partridge said. “He has the perfect tools and size to be a 3-4 outside linebacker and has enormous hands.”

Cole Kruse
5-11, 165 | Wide Receiver | Raymore, Missouri | Raymore-Peculiar HS
“I love coach’s kids, obviously,” Partridge said. “He’s a great competitor with great feet and agility. He makes plays.”

Tyler Baska
6-4, 230 | Defensive End | Parkville, Missouri | Park Hill South HS
“He’s the brother of ex-Griffon great, Austin,” Partridge said. “He has a chance to be bigger than his brother. He’s an excellent student and could be a sleeper.”

Kasey McFall
6-1, 210 | Linebacker | Chillicothe, Missouri | South Harrison HS
“A potentially big backer,” Partridge said of McFall. “A rival coach told me Kasey was a football genius. He dominated at that level and is also a good wrestler.”

Alex Atkinson
6-1, 280 | Defensive Lineman | LaVista, Nebraska | Papillion-LaVista HS
“The thicker of the twins, he’s a strong young man,” Partridge said. “He has good mobility and won’t be moved easily. He’s a great student as well.”

Adam Atkinson
6-4, 240 | Defensive End | LaVista, Nebraska | Papillion-LaVista
“Adam’s a little taller than his twin brother. He’s a tremendous student from a great Omaha area school,” Partridge said. “He plays hard and physical. He’ll get big.”

Cale Cornman
6-3, 235 | Linebacker | Mountain View, Missouri | Liberty (Mountain View) HS
“Cale is a big time steal from very southern Missouri,” Partridge said. “He can play inside or outside linebacker, maybe even a defensive lineman. He’s a big, rangy athlete.”

Jacob Olson
6-3, 285 | Offensive Lineman | St. Joseph, Missouri | Central HS
“He’s going to play a lot in his career,” Partridge said. “He’s a tough competitor, a good wrestler with good technique. He was the best lineman in the area.”

Isaiah Colbert
6-4, 280 | Offensive Lineman | Kansas City, Missouri | Raytown South HS
“I loved him all the way back to summer camp,” Partridge said. “A lot of people missed on this guy. He has length and is a very good knee bender.”

Brandon McCracken
6-3, 320 | Defensive Lineman | Parkersburg, Iowa | Ellsworth Community College
“A large human that provides inside defensive line depth for us,” Partridge said.

Evan Davis
6-4, 235 | Defensive Lineman | Cincinnati, Ohio | Iowa Central CC
“He is an immediate need athlete,” Partridge said. “He has length, big hands and room for growth.” He will help our defensive line next year and is a plus pass rusher.”

Raye Wilson
5-11, 180 | Defensive Back | Junction City, Kansas | Junction City HS
“Raye is a shutdown corner. We’ve had those here,” Partridge said. “He has speed, feet, hips, length and confidence. We knew we wanted him from camps here.”

Cameron Henderson
6-2, 205 | Running Back | St. Peters, Missouri | Fort Zumwalt South HS
“An all-conference guy on either side of the ball,” Partridge said of Henderson. “He’s physical and will play running back here.”

Theo Smith
6-1, 195 | Linebacker | Raytown, Missouri | Raytown HS
“He has excellent quickness and athleticism,” Partridge said. “He also has natural instincts and will for sure get bigger.”

JD Woods
5-7, 170 | Running Back | Lawrence, Kansas | Lawrence HS
“JD can scoot. He’s a dynamic ball carrier who is difficult to even touch,” Partridge said. “He’ll be a very versatile offensive player.”

Tyree Graves
6-2, 256 | Defensive Lineman | Clearwater, Florida | Highland Community College
“He’s much needed and ready to play defensive line,” Partridge said. “Tyree is an active guy who can play inside or on the edge. He was a targeted recruit from the get-go.”

Tim Hall
6-0, 160 | Defensive Back | Fenton, Missouri | Rockwood Summit HS
“I like Tim a lot,” Partridge said. “He’s another addition to corner U and has the size and quickness to play quickly. He’s another good get out of the Lou.”

Austin Lindsay
6-1, 190 | Linebacker | Ozark, Missouri | Ozark HS
“I’m excited to get another Griffon brother,” Partridge said. “Austin is a good athlete who will be good in space. He’s a playmaker.”

Tanner Jenkins
6-8, 255 | Offensive Lineman | Shawnee, Kansas | Mill Valley HS
“Offensive tackles are a commodity,” Partridge said. “Tanner has a huge frame with very strong legs. We like his upside.”

Sam Webb
6-2, 175 | Defensive Back | Excelsior Springs, Missouri | Excelsior Springs HS
“An explosive athlete who will get much bigger,” Partridge said. “Could play offense, but will play corner. “He’s another long guy who is physical.”

Matt White
6-2, 198 | Quarterback | Maysville, Missouri | Maysville HS

Logan Jester
6-4, 280 | Offensive Lineman | Independence, Missouri | Truman HS

Eisley Hinton
5-11, 195 | Running Back | Higginsville, Missouri | Lafayette County HS

Mason Stipp
6-2, 295 | Defensive Lineman | Nixa, Missouri | Nixa HS

DeVontae Burse
5-8, 170 | Athlete | St. Louis, Missouri | Affton HS

Corey Bertini
6-3, 215 | Quarterback | Glenwood, Iowa | Iowa Central Community College

Mike Powell
6-2, 180 | Quarterback | York, Nebraska | Winona State

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western soccer coach Chad Edwards has announced the signings of seven student-athletes for the 2016 season.

Edwards’ squad has posted the two most successful seasons in program history in each of the last two seasons. The team’s 18 combined wins in 2014 and 2015 were just two less than the previous six seasons combined. Edwards became the program’s all-time wins leader in 2014 and has led the team to back-to-back appearances in the MIAA Tournament and has 16 student-athletes named All-MIAA since 2011, including 12 in the past two seasons. Over the last two seasons, Griffon Soccer has broken or tied more than 25 team and individual records.

Members of the 2016 signing class are as follows.

Sarah Blakley
Defender | Enid, Oklahoma | Northern Oklahoma College
Named first team All-Region at NOC… two-time All-Conference selection at NOC…her mother, Terri, played basketball at the University of Oklahoma.

“Sarah is a tough, hard-working field general that has led NOC to incredible success over her two seasons,” Edwards said. “Coach Smith does a great job with his players and I know she will be ready to make an immediate impact.”

Jamie Cronister
Midfielder | Topeka, Kansas | Allen Community College | Sporting Kaw Valley
Cronister was named KJCCA All-Conference in 2014…was also named to All-Academic Team in 2015…won state championships in 2012 and 2013 at Hayden High School…chose MWSU because it seemed like the perfect fit after meeting with Coach Edwards and the team.

“Jamie is an extremely hard working player and a tenacious one on one defender,” Edwards said. “She also played under the direction of Coach McGinnis and will be ready to add strength to our already top-class back line.”

Tatum Heller
Forward | Olathe, Kansas | Olathe Northwest HS | Sporting Blue Valley Soccer Club
Heller was named First Team All-State in 2015 and Kansas Sunflower League First Team…chose MWSU because it felt like the perfect fit academically and athletically.

“Tatum is incredibly athletic and has the pace to run by anyone,” Edwards said. “She is a pure goal scorer that has competed and had success at the highest level of club soccer. She will be ready to have immediate success.”

Emily Kemp
Forward | Lenexa, Kansas | Olathe Northwest HS | Sporting Blue Valley
Chose MWSU based on the campus and a desire to continue her soccer career.

“Emily is a versatile, athletic, hard-working player that has the ability to play multiple positions,” Edwards said. “She also comes from a fantastic club and high school background that has her prepared for the highest level.”

Madison Massa
Midfielder | Kansas City, Missouri |Park Hill HS | FCKC
Massa was an Honorable Mention All-Conference and All-District selection in 2015…part of conference championship teams in 2014 and 2015…club team won the 2015 Missouri state championship…chose MWSU because of the competition, community and location.

“Madi is a tenacious, gritty player that can play multiple roles,” Edwards said. “She has experienced a lot success throughout her career. She also comes from a great club and high school background that will have her more than ready to have immediate success.”

Emilee Mitchell
Midfielder | Platte City, Missouri | Allen Community College | KC United
Mitchell was named Honorable Mention All-KJCCC in 2015…also earned KJCCC Player of the Week Honors in 2015…three-sport athlete at Platte County High School…chose MWSU because of amazing athletics and proximity to home.

“Emilee is a physical, technical midfielder with great vision,” Edwards said. “After playing two years at Allen under the direction of Coach McGinnis, she will be more than prepared to make the transition.”

Serena Ortiz
Forward | Kansas City, Kansas | Bishop Ward HS| Sporting Blue Valley
Ortiz was named First Team KVL in 2015…said she chose MWSU because of the focus on helping student athletes balance athletics and academics.

“Serena is a super technical, physical central midfielder/forward that is a pure ball striker,” Edwards said. “She comes from a fantastic club program and coach that have prepared her compete at high level immediately.”

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – For the fourth consecutive week, the Missouri Western women’s basketball team is ranked in the Top 10.

The Griffons fell from No. 6 to No. 9 in this week’s WBCA/USA TODAY Poll after a loss at Pittsburg State on Jan. 27 and a win at Missouri Southern on Jan. 31.

Missouri Western sits atop the MIAA at 13-2 as they have a half game lead on Fort Hays State who is 12-2.  The Tigers are ranked No. 7 in this weeks pool as MWSU defeated then No. 3 Fort Hays State on Jan. 21.  Emporia State is the only other MIAA team in the top 25 as they are in a tie for 16th place with Arkansas Tech.

The Griffons are 19-2 overall with a 13-2 mark in MIAA play. The team opened the season 18-0, the program’s best-ever start. The 19 wins are the most for the program since finishing the 2004-05 season 20-9 overall. The 13 MIAA wins are the most since the 2002-03 squad went 13-5 in league play. Milestone moments so far this season have included wins at Central Missouri (first since 2004), Washburn (first since 2004), Emporia State (first since 2003) and Missouri Southern (first since 2008). The Griffons’ win over Fort Hays State marked the first victory over a top-5 team since 2010 and gave the team back-to-back wins over top-10 teams (Emporia State No. 9).

Missouri Western will look for a season sweep of Lindenwood this Thursday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse as they tip off with the Lions at 5:30 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —