TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Missouri Western Men’s Basketball (8-7, 2-2 MIAA) trailed by as much as 11 points in the second half, but came back to defeat Northeastern State (6-7, 0-4 MIAA) 71-70 on the road on Saturday.

With the Griffons holding on to a two-point lead, Northeastern State was fouled at the buzzer, sending the RiverHawks to the line with a chance to tie the game. After making the first attempt, the RiverHawks missed the potential game-tying free throw, giving the Griffons the one-point win.

NOTABLES

• Northeastern State led by five after a low-scoring first half. The Griffons shot just 37 percent in the first half, going 3-13 from three.
• Six minutes into the second half, the RiverHawks stretched their lead to 11 points.
• The Griffons would go on to make eight of their next 10 shot attempts to take their first lead of the game on a Tyus Millhollin three pointer with eight minutes remaining.
• The RiverHawks used a 7-0 run of their own to regain the lead.
• Facing a 68-66 deficit with less than two minutes to play, Bryan Hudson sank a three to give the Griffons the lead.
• Northeastern State again held a one-point with 42 seconds remaining.
• Lavon Hightower converted a layup on the ensuing Missouri Western possession to go up 70-69 with 22 seconds to play.
• Northeastern State’s Bradley George was fouled on a buzzer-beater attempt and was sent to the line down 71-69.
• The RiverHawks made the first free throw, but missed the second, sealing the win for the Griffons.
• The Griffons turned the ball over just eight times on Saturday, a new season best.
• After defeating both Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State this week, the Griffons have won back-to-back road games for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

LEADERS

• Millhollin’s team high 22 points ties a career-high. Millhollin made five of his eight three-point attempts.
• Hightower scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Hudson added 12 points and four rebounds.
• Hudson and Tyrell Caroll each finished with three assists.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will host Washburn (9-2, 2-0 MIAA) on Jan. 9.

— MWSU Athletics —

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (7-6, 2-2 MIAA) jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the opening tip and never looked back, as the Griffons never trailed and beat Northeastern State (3-10, 0-4 MIAA) 63-49 on the road on Saturday.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons set the tone right from the start, outscoring the RiverHawks by 15 in the first quarter. Northeastern State was held to just one made field goal in the quarter.
• Northeastern State managed to outscore the Griffons in the second quarter, but the Griffons forced eight turnovers in the quarter to take a 31-20 lead into the halftime break.
• The RiverHawks pulled within just four with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter.
• Turnovers again helped the Griffons pull away in the fourth, as they forced nine in the quarter and shot 64 percent to seal the 14-point win.
• The Griffons forced a total of 29 turnovers on Saturday, their best mark this season.
• Northeastern State had the advantage in getting to the free-throw line. The RiverHawks shot 22 free throws compared to the Griffons’ seven attempts.
• Saturday’s win is the Griffons’ first true road victory of the season.

LEADERS

• Brittany Atkins scored 11 of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.
• Katrina Roenfeldt, Melia Richardson, and KeShara Scott each had four steals.
• Roenfeldt set a new career-high with seven assists to go along with her 15 points
• Jessica Davies added 11 points on an efficient 63 percent shooting.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will play the first of three straight at home in a matchup against Washburn (7-4, 2-0 MIAA) on Jan. 9.

— MWSU Athletics —

EDMOND, Okla. – Griffon Men’s Basketball (7-7, 1-2 MIAA) picked up its first conference win at Central Oklahoma (7-5, 0-3 MIAA) on Thursday night. The Griffons used excellent free-throw shooting and key stops in the final minutes to improve to .500 on the season.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons trailed by as much as 10 points in the first half before cutting the deficit to five going into halftime.
• Central Oklahoma made five three’s on 50 percent shooting in the first half, but Missouri Western used 17 made free-throws to stay within reach.
• Tyrell Carroll’s layup with 12:24 to play in the second half capped off a 22-4 run for the Griffons. The Griffons shot 60 percent and held Central Oklahoma to just 14 percent shooting while forcing five turnovers.
• The Bronchos regained the lead at 78-77 with just over one minute to play.
• Lavon Hightower calmly sank two free throws to give Missouri Western the one-point lead with 50 second remaining.
• Central Oklahoma’s Marquis Johnson missed the potential go-ahead jumper on the ensuing possession.
• Alex Martin grabbed the rebound before knocking down two-straight free throws for the Griffons.
• The Griffons made all eight of their free throws in the final minute.
• Missouri Western’s 36 made free-throws are the most by an MIAA team this season.
• Al five Griffon starters scored in double-figures.

LEADERS

• Carroll led the team in scoring with 18 points on 73 percent shooting while also dishing out a game-high five assists.
• Hightower added 17 points and made all 13 of his free-throw attempts.
• Alex Martin finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.
• Bryan Hudson and Tyus Millhollin both scored 16 points.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western Men’s Basketball will travel to Northeastern State (6-6, 0-3 MIAA) on Saturday for its next game.
• The RiverHawks lost to No. 2 Northwest Missouri 105-70 on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —

EDMOND, Okla. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (6-6, 1-2 MIAA) fell on the road to Central Oklahoma (11-2, 2-1 MIAA) on Thursday night. The Griffons took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but were outlasted in the final period and lost 69-56 to the Bronchos.

NOTABLES

• Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter. The Bronchos outscored the Griffons 12-9 as both teams shot 33 percent from the field.
• Katrina Roenfeldt’s three pointer as time expired in the third capped off a 13-4 run for the Griffons, giving Missouri Western the 41-40 lead going into the final quarter.
• The Griffons shot 43 percent and forced five UCO turnovers in the third quarter.
• Missouri Western was unable to keep up with the Central Oklahoma offense in the final period. The Bronchos scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, going 6-8 from three.
• The Griffons shot 46 percent in the second half.

LEADERS

• Roenfeldt led the Griffons with 14 points on four made three-pointers.
• Jessica Davies finished with a team-high seven rebounds and 33 minutes.
• Brittany Atkins added 10 points and four boards.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will travel to Northeastern State (3-9, 0-3 MIAA) on Saturday.
• The RiverHawks lost to Northwest Missouri 62-59 at home on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (6-7) fell to Illinois Springfield (8-3) in the team’s final non-conference game of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Griffons cut the deficit to just three points with 2:13 remaining, but fell to the Prairie Stars by a final score of 89-81.

NOTABLES

• The Prairie Stars held a 44-43 after a back-and-forth first half. There were 11 lead changes and seven ties before halftime.
• Lavon Hightower and Bryan Hudson paced the Griffons in the first half, combining for 28 first-half points.
• Tyrell Carroll gave Missouri Western its only lead of the second half with a three-pointer with 17:28 to play.
• Illinois Springfield shot 37 free throws in the win, the most allowed by the Griffons all season.
• The Prairie Stars won the turnover battle, forcing 10 more turnovers than the Griffons.
• The Griffons finish 6-5 in non-conference play this season.

LEADERS

• Lavon Hightower earned a double-double with 22 points and a game-high 11 boards.
• Tyrell Carroll scored 21 points, going 3-4 from distance.
• Bryan Hudson added 15 points and four assists.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will travel to Central Oklahoma (7-4, 0-2 MIAA) on Jan. 3.
• Both teams will be in search of their first MIAA win this season.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (6-5) won its final non-conference game of the season over Adams State (1-8) by 19 points on Sunday. The Griffons led wire to wire to earn their third-straight victory.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons were up by just two points at the end of the first period. The Grizzlies shot 67 percent from the field in the quarter, but the Griffons forced 10 turnovers to keep the 17-15 lead.
• Turnovers continued to be the story of the first half, as the Griffons won the turnover battle 13-2 going into halftime
• Melia Richardson played for the first time since Nov. 20, leading four Griffons in double figures with 16 points
• Missouri Western outscored Adams State 35-25 in the second half
• The Grizzlies managed to out-rebound the Griffons 32-23 in the loss
• Five of the Griffons’ six wins have been by double digits

LEADERS

• Richardson led all players in scoring in her return from injury. Richardson finished with 16 points, shooting 5-7 from the field and 6-7 from the free-throw line.
• Roenfeldt was the Griffons’ second-leading scorer with 13 points
• Davies finished with 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds
• Atkins added 10 points on 50 percent shooting

UP NEXT

• The Griffons will travel to Central Oklahoma (10-1, 1-1 MIAA) on Jan. 3
• The Bronchos defeated Southern Nazarene 74-65 in their last game.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western women’s basketball junior guard Katrina Roenfeldt was named MIAA Women’s Basketball Co-Athlete of the Week following a career night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Dodge City, Kansas native scored a career-high 29 points in Missouri Western’s win over Newman. Roenfeldt shot 50 percent from the field and was 11-for-12 from the free throw line. She also went 4-of-9 from three point range and added eight rebounds.

Roenfeldt leads the team and ranks sixth in the MIAA, averaging 15.7 points per game after missing most of last season with an injury. She also leads the team and ranks second in the MIAA with 29 made three-point field goals. She’s also second on the team, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game and her four blocked shots are tied for the second most on the team. Roenfeldt is tied for second on the team, averaging 1.7 assists per game.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (6-6) defeated Rockhurst (6-4) 89-81 on Wednesday night to improve to .500. This season marks the first time since 2015 that the Griffons have had a .500 or better winning percentage through at least 10 games.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons used a 16-5 run to close out the first half. The Hawks were held to just one made field goal over the last seven minutes.
• Missouri Western held a 40-35 lead going into halftime.
• Tyrell Carroll paced the Griffons in the first half with 10 points and five assists.
• The Hawks used a three pointer to take their first lead of the second half at 12:06.
• Sam Siganos set up Lavon Hightower for the one-handed dunk to stretch the Griffon lead back to seven points with 7:21 to play.
• The Griffons went 15 for 18 from the free-throw line over the final five minutes to seal the non-conference victory.
• Missouri Western’s 42 percent three-point percentage is its best of the season.
• The Griffons also shot 48 percent from the field in the win, their second-best mark of the season.
• The Griffons shot 83 percent from the free-throw line with 25 made attempts.

LEADERS

• Carroll set a new career high with 23 points. Carroll’s seven assists also ties a career high.
• Hightower set a career high with 13 rebounds. Hightower also scored 18 points and played all 40 minutes.
• Siganos scored 12 points on 4-5 shooting from three.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will host Illinois Springfield (7-3) in its final non-conference game of the season on Dec. 30.
• The Prairie Stars have won five-straight games after their 76-65 win over Lindenwood-Belleville on Wednesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (5-5) earned a non-conference 68-58 win against Newman (7-5) on Wednesday. The win puts the Griffons at .500 heading into the holiday break.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons outscored Newman 20-9 in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime
• Missouri Western and Newman combined to shoot 23 percent from the field in the period
• Katrina Roenfeldt’s three pointer at the buzzer sent the Griffons into the locker room with an eight point lead at the halftime break
• Brittany Atkins’ jumper with 9:42 left gave the Griffons their largest lead of the game at 17 points
• Newman used a 10-2 run to cut the lead to single digits with six minutes to play
• KeShara Scott converted the and-one on the following possession, stretching the lead back to 12 with five minutes remaining
• The Jets continued to chip away at the Griffon lead, trailing by just three points with one minute to play
• The Griffons used solid free-throw shooting to seal the victory, making seven of their eight free throws in the final minute
• Missouri Western shot 82 percent from the free-throw line in the game, its best mark of the season
• The game was the first for Brittany Atkins since Jan. 15, 2018

LEADERS

• Katrina Roenfeldt scored a career-high 29 points in the win, including 11 made free throws
• Jessica Davies led the team with nine rebounds to go with her 11 points
• KeShara Scott filled the stat sheet with eight points, eight boards, three steals, and three assists

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will host Adams State (1-7) in the final non-conference game of the season on Dec. 30.
• The Grizzlies lost to Rockhurst 54-49 on Wednesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Men’s Basketball (5-6, 0-2 MIAA) lost its second game of the MIAA conference schedule 79-68 to Lincoln (5-3, 1-1 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon. The Griffons outscored the Blue Tigers 43-34 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons struggled to slow down the Lincoln offense in the first half. The Blue Tigers shot 59 percent and went 5-10 from three.
• Lincoln closed the half on a 15-5 run to take a 20-point lead into halftime.
• The Griffons were able to cut the Lincoln lead to single digits with just over one minute remaining after back-to-back three’s from Tyus Millhollin and Lavon Hightower.
• Missouri Western shot a season-high 34 three pointers on Saturday.
• The Blue Tigers shot 59 percent from the field in the win, the second-most by a Griffon opponent this season.
• The Griffons outrebounded Lincoln 19-18 in the second half.

LEADERS

• Lavon Hightower scored a game-high 24 points, his fourth game this season with at least 20.
• Tyree Martin led all players with eight rebounds.
• Bryan Hudson also scored in double-figures, finishing with 12 points on 50 percent shooting.
• Tyus Millhollin added nine points, four assists, and three steals.

UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will host Rockhurst (5-3, 1-1 GLVC) in its next game on Dec. 19.
• The Hawks topped Benedictine (Kan.) in 75-69 in their last game.

— MWSU Athletics —