The Missouri Western women’s basketball team played its first exhibition game of the season Friday night at MWSU Fieldhouse against Livin’ the Dream.

The Griffons won 79-74 despite giving up 39 points to LTD’s guard Dayon Hall-Jones. Heather Howard led the team with 17 points off 6-of-15 from the field.

In the first half, the Griffons jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Livin’ the Dream scored its first basket. Neither team led by more than seven throughout, and eventually the game was tied at 29.

Missouri Western went on a 13-3 run in the final four minutes and 12 seconds to end the half ahead 42-32.

In the second half, both teams swapped points back and forth for the better part of the half.

However, Livin’ the Dream came back to make the game closer. LTD pulled within one point in the closing minutes to mark the game at 75-74. But the Griffons held on, and secured the game 79-74.

Leading the Griffons in rebounds was Alicia Bell with 11. Lanicia Lawrence started at point guard and controlled the tempo well, dishing out eight assists to go along with three steals.

Up Next: The Griffons travel to Kansas City to play the University of Missouri-Kansas City November 9.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s basketball team saw its first action of the 2012-2013 season Tuesday evening. The Griffons hung in there against Division I Missouri State University falling 81-67 in exhibition play. Missouri Western had two players in double digit scoring as Adarius Fulton dumped in 20 points while Alfreeman Flowers dumped in 13 off the bench.

The Griffon stayed close for 15 minutes of the first half as they trailed by just one at 30-29 with 4:40 to play after Flowers nailed a jumper off an assist by James Harris. There were four ties and just one lead change in the opening frame.

The Griffons took the early 2-0 lead after two free throws by Dylan Frantz. MWSU continued to play well tying the score at 14 after a Fulton three pointer with 13:06 to play in the first frame. The Griffons got down by as many as five the next six minutes but a layup by Kalvin Balque and a long range shot from Dzenan Mrkaljevic tied the game at 27 wiht 5:16 to play.

The rest of the half belonged to the Bears as they outscored the Griffons 20-5 taking the 47-32 lead into the half. The Bears scored 14 points off seven Griffon turnovers and had 28 points off the bench to the Griffons eight.

MWSU shot 60-percent (12-20) from the field and made 4-of-8 long range shots. Seven different Griffons scored in the half with Fulton scoring nine points making three long range shots. Missouri State shot 53.3-percent from the field with Gavin Thurman leading the chagre with 17 points making five of the Bears 12 first half three pointers.

In the second half Missouri State opned up an 18 point lead at 55-37 after a jumper by Dorrian Williams. The Griffons chipped away cutting the Bear lead to 12 with 6:35 to play at 68-55 after a Fulton long range shot. MWSU got even closer three minutes later cutting the lead to 10 at 75-65 after a Flowers jumper.

That would be the closest the Griffons would get as they fell by 14. The Griffons outrebounded the Bears 30 to 24 overall and seven to five on the offenisve end of the floor.

Mrkaljevic finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists while Cedri Clinkscalses dumped in 9 points and snared 5 rebounds. Alex Tuluka-Mfumupembe had 8 points and 7 rebounds.

MWSU finished making 25-of-50 field goals and going 8-for-12 from long range.

Missouri State had 20 assists on 27 field goals and made 17 three pointers. Thurman had 21 points while Anthony Downing and Marcus Marshal pitched in 15 and 14 respectively.

The Griffons will return to exhibition play on Friday, November 2 against Livin the Dream in St. Joseph, Mo. Game time is set for 7:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team played No. 15 Truman State close Tuesday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse, but came up short, losing 3-1.

Missouri Western started out with the lead in the first set, claiming a 3-0 and 6-1 set. The Griffons continued their momentum throughout the beginning of the set, but fell behind late as Truman State came back to take a 22-21 lead.
The Bulldogs won the first set 25-22 to take a 1-0 lead.

MWSU kept the same mentality going into the second set, and took control early on. The Griffons didn’t trail the entire set, and only tied twice. After a 3-3 tie, Jessie Thorup broke the set open with a kill to take a one point lead, and the Griffons led from there.

They eventually won 25-19 to tie the match at one set apiece.

The Griffons couldn’t win the third set but kept it close. The teams battled back and forth before Truman won 25-22 to push its lead to 2 sets to 1 heading into the fourth.

The final set of the evening went to the Bulldogs as they won 25-15 to complete the 3-1 victory.

Thorup led the Griffons in kills with 10. Stephanie Hattey had a team-high 26 assists. The Griffons finished with 12 blocks, including four from Meredith McCormick.

Up Next: The Griffons play Friday night against Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team snapped a five match losing streak defeating the Missouri Southern Lions 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-14). The Griffons improve to 13-13 overall and 4-9 in MIAA play with the victory.

The Griffons came out sluggish in the first set getting down 4-1. MWSU went on 15-8 run claiming a 16-11 lead after a kill by Jessie Thorup. The Griffons continued to play well winning 25-17 as Melissa Cairns closed the set with a kill.

In the second set the two teams played close but but a four point run by the Griffons gave MWSU the 17-13 lead after a Cairns kill. The Lions made things interesting down the stretch but a MSSU service error and an ace by Cairns gave the Griffons the 28-26 victory and a 2-0 lead in the set.

The Griffons dominated the third set using runs of 5-0 and numerous 3-0 runs to win the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.

Missouri Western hit .274 with 46 kills and had 41 set assists with 24 coming from Stephanie Hattey. Sarah Faubel had 22 digs while Hattey pitched in 15.

The Lions fall to 0-25 overall and 0-13 in the MIAA. Callie Whetstone had eight kills whlie Sydney Potts had 17 assists.

The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, October 30 when they host the Truman State Bulldogs in St. Joseph, Mo. First serve is set for 7:00 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western senior forward Abby Widrig ended her career in style getting the game winning goal with one minute left in the first overtime giving the Griffons the 1-0 win. It was the Griffons all-time scoring leaders 13th goal of her career. MWSU ends the season 6-9-1 overall and 4-7-1 in MIAA play.

The Griffons and the Lions played to a scoreless tie after one period of play. The Griffons had six shots with six on goal as Abby Widrig got the lone shot on goal.

The Lions had three shots with two shots on goal. Candis Clark and Tiffany Laughlin each had a shot on goal.

Griffon senior goalie Kelly Voigts had two saves while Abby Risner had one for MSSU.

The Lions dominated the second half with 14 shots to the Griffons five. Voigts kept the Griffons in the game making five saves in the frame. MWSU had three shots on goal in the second half with their best chance coming off the foot of Widrig. Widrig had five shots and two shots on goal after the first two periods. The two teams played to a tie at the end of regulation.

Alicia Vonderheid and Natascha Lord both had three shots with one on goal after two periods of play.

In the first overtime Widrig took the game winning shot from 20 yards and put it in the lower left corner of the net giving the Griffons the victory.

Voigts finished with eight saves and improves to 6-8-1 on the season and with a MWSU record 10 career victories.

The Griffons honored five senior student athletes as they played their last home and game of their career. Those seniors included Ashley Grunder, Ashlyn Castillo, Abby Widrig, Erin Widrig and Kelly Voigts.

— MWSU Sports Information —