MANKATO, Minn. – They’ve lived by the three, and on Tuesday night, the Missouri Western women’s basketball team died by the three.

The Griffons shot just 16.7 percent (5-30) from behind-the-arc in a 65-54 loss at Minnesota State. It was the season opener for the Mavericks (1-0). Missouri Western (2-1) made a combined 24 three pointers in their first two games of the season, but couldn’t replicate that number in their first road game of 2016-17. The Mavericks limited Western to 31.7-percent shooting from the field and outrebounded MWSU 54-30.

Western did force 24 turnovers in defeat but also struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 53-percent (9-17) from the charity stripe. Dwanisha Tate led three Griffons in double figures, finishing with 14 points on 4-16 shooting and 5 rebounds. Chelsea Dewey and Sefulu Faavae added 11 points and 10 points respectively.

Next up for the Griffons, a first-time-ever road trip to Hawaii. They will face Hawaii Pacific on Friday, November 18 at 9 p.m. central time. They finish out the island trip on Saturday with an 11 p.m. tip-off against Brigham Young-Hawaii.

— MWSU Athletics —

TOPEKA, Kan. – Missouri Western’s Volleyball season came to an end Tuesday night as they lost 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 26-24) to # 11 Washburn in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament.

The Griffons started well and carried a 6-0 run with Kayla Ruff at the service line to take a 13-5 lead. Washburn eventually gained back the momentum with a rally of its own and won the first set. Another rally midway through the second set allowed the Ichabods to extend their match lead to 2-0. Missouri Western would not go down easy as they jumped out to a 5-1 advantage to start the set. Washburn again countered with a run midway through the set to win the match.

Kayla Ruff finished with 23 digs as Stephanie Doak led the MWSU attack with nine kills. Lauren Murphy finished with a match high 35 assists.

Missouri Western finishes the season 17-15 and 9-10 in the MIAA. The Griffons also had five players named to All-MIAA teams for 2016.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Thirteen members of the 2016 Missouri Western football team were named to All-MIAA teams released Tuesday morning.

Highlighting Missouri Western’s selections were unanimous first team selections Josh Caldwell and Travis Anderson. For Anderson, it was his third consecutive first team nod as an offensive lineman. Caldwell became All-MIAA for the first time in his career.

FIRST TEAM
Josh Caldwell: The sophomore dominated the MIAA in his first season as the Griffons’ feature back. Caldwell led the MIAA with 1,408 rushing yards, finishing the regular season with 583 yards more than the conference’s second leading rusher. The Lee’s Summit, Missouri native was the only MIAA rusher to average more than 100 yards per game on the ground, finishing with an average of 128 per contest. Caldwell also finished second in the MIAA, averaging 133.5 all-purpose yards per game and his 10 rushing touchdowns were third most in the conference. It was Caldwell’s second honor this season after also being named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.

Travis Anderson: The sixth-year senior became the first Griffon offensive lineman to earn three first team All-MIAA selections since Roger Allen. A stalwart at guard, the Derby, Kansas native started all 11 games for the Griffons in 2016 and finished his career with 40 starts on the interior of offensive lines that paved the way for two different first team All-MIAA running backs. Missouri Western had a 1,000-yard rusher each of the four seasons Anderson started on the offensive line. He also helped Raphael Spencer finish his career second on the MWSU all-time rushing yardage list.

SECOND TEAM
Max Oeser: The Griffons starting center for all 11 games this season earned his first All-MIAA selection as a junior. It was the second straight season the Springfield, Missouri native started every game for Missouri Western. Earlier this season, Oeser was recognized as a first team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.

James Huskey: The St. Louis, Missouri native picked up his first All-MIAA honor after missing the 2015 season due to an injury. The junior linebacker finished second in the MIAA in 2016 with 16.5 tackles for loss. Huskey recorded 61 total tackles with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Donte Watkins: Now a two-time All-MIAA safety, Watkins led Missouri Western and finished sixth in the MIAA with 98 total tackles. Watkins’ 62 solo tackles were fifth most in the MIAA. The Blue Springs, Missouri native was also tied for the team-lead with three interceptions.

THIRD TEAM
Dijuan Ussery: The junior wide receiver from Rock Hill, South Carolina flashed his big play ability in 2016, finishing second in the MIAA with a 24.2-yard per reception average. Ussery’s 797 receiving yards led Missouri Western and were seventh most in the MIAA.

HONORABLE MENTION
Patrick Bolton (WR), , Blake Vandenberg (TE), Hayden Eatinger (OL), Daylon Harper (DL), Cody Lindsay (LB), Darrian Bass (LB), Tyrell Robison (LB)

Of Missouri Western’s 13 All-MIAA selections, 11 were underclassmen in 2016. The only All-MIAA selections from the seven-member class of 2016 were Anderson and Vandenberg.

2016 ALL-MIAA HONORS

MIAA Offensive Player of the Year – Kyle Zimmerman, QB, Northwest Missouri
MIAA Defensive Player of the Year – Sie Doe Jr., DL, Fort Hays State
MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year – Jaylen Zachery, RS, Central Missouri
MIAA Freshmen of the Year – Brenner Clemons, WR, Pittsburg State
MIAA Coach of the Year – Adam Dorrel, Northwest Missouri

First Team (Offense)
QB – Kyle Zimmerman, Northwest Missouri
RB – Josh Caldwell, Missouri Western**
RB –  Shaquille Cooper, Fort Hays State^
WR – Jaylen Zachery, Central Missouri
WR – Mitchell Foote, Emporia State**^
WR – Levi Copelin, Pittsburg State
TE/FB –  Jordan Grove, Northwest Missouri**^
OL – Chase Sherman, Northwest Missouri**
OL – Travis Anderson, Missouri Western**^
OL – Derrick Puni, Central Missouri
OL – Jarret Statsny, Emporia State
OL – Jamie Theiman, Northwest Missouri
K – Simon Mathiesen, Northwest Missouri^
PR/PR – Jaylen Zachery, Central Missouri**
**=Unanimous selection
^=Repeat First Team Selection

First Team (Defense)
DL – Eddie Vinson, Emporia State
DL – Sie Doe Jr., Fort Hays State
DL – Collin Bevins, Northwest Missouri**^
DL – Cass Weitl, Northwest Missouri
LB – Connor Harris, Lindenwood^
LB – Tyke Kozeal, Nebraska-Kearney
LB – Jacob Vollstedt, Northwest Missouri^
LB –  Cody Heiman, Washburn
DB – Tevin Teamer, Central Missouri
DB – Raheme Dumas, Fort Hays State
DB – Kevin Berg, Northwest Missouri^
DB –  Deron Washington, Pittsburg State
P –  Carter Anchors, Pittsburg State
**=Unanimous selection
^=Repeat First Team Selection

Second Team (Offense)
QB – Garrett Fugate, Central Missouri
RB – Clay McKenzie, Central Oklahoma
RB –  Phil Jackson II, Northwest Missouri
WR – Justin Brown, Emporia State
WR – Gary McKnight, Northeastern State
WR – Shawn Bane Jr., Northwest Missouri
TE/FB – Seth Hebert, Central Missouri
OL – Brandon Waggoner, Central Oklahoma
OL – Max Oeser, Missouri Western
OL – Codey Funk, Pittsburg State
OL – Bo Farrow, Pittsburg State
OL – Michael Miller, Washburn
K – Perry Schmiedeler, Washburn
KR/PR – Austin Panko, Pittsburg State

Second Team (Defense)
DL – Josh Powell, Central Missouri
DL – Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
DL – Heath Wilson, Fort Hays State
DL – Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq, Washburn
LB –  Kole Schankie, Emporia State
LB –  Alex Schmidtberger, Fort Hays State
LB – James Huskey, Missouri Western
LB – Spencer Brown, Pittsburg State
DB – Monteze Latimore, Central Missouri
DB – A.J. West, Emporia State
DB – Donte Watkins, Missouri Western
DB – Anthony Lane, Northwest Missouri
P – Perry Schmiedeler, Washburn

Third Team (Offense)
QB – John Roderique, Pittsburg State
RB – Kenneth Iheme, Fort Hays State
RB – Luke Quinn, Nebraska-Kearney
RB – Cameron Wilcox, Northwest Missouri
WR – Connor Pulley, Central Oklahoma
WR – Dijuan Ussery, Missouri Western
WR – Bryce Chavis, Washburn
TE/FB – Kyle Swartz, Pittsburg State
OL – Chris Gomez, Central Missouri
OL – Sam Noble, Central Oklahoma
OL – Jordan Baldwin, Northeastern State
OL – Mason Dickey, Fort Hays State
OL – Ryan Huff, Northwest Missouri
K – Brandon Brown, Fort Hays State
KR/PR – Kendell Sparks, Lindenwood
Team Reflects Tie in the Voting

Third Team (Defense)
DL – Dalainey Taala, Central Missouri
DL – Deontay Wilson, Central Oklahoma
DL – DeAndre Glover, Emporia State
DL – Jonathan Harris, Lindenwood
LB – Dylan Albertson, Central Missouri
LB – Josh Monteagudo, Emporia State
LB – Kenneth Davis, Northeastern State
LB – Jarrod Bishop, Northwest Missouri
DB – Tre Dickerson, Emporia State
DB – Bakari Triggs, Lindenwood
DB – Edward Richey, Northwest Missouri
DB – Zach Franklin, Washburn
P – Stetson Broce, Missouri Southern

Honorable Mention
QB – T.J. Eckert, Central Oklahoma; Braxton Marstall, Emporia State; Jacob Mezera, Fort Hays State; Dimonic McKinzy, Northeastern State; Derek McGinnis, Washburn.
RB – Gabe Vandiver, Central Missouri; Jake Gandara, Central Oklahoma; Landon Nault, Emporia State; Calen Campbell, Lindenwood; Aaron Daniels, Lindenwood; Michael Rose, Pittsburg State.
WR – Kyle Echols, Central Missouri; Josh Crockett, Central Oklahoma; Layne Bieberle, Fort Hays State; DeSean Warren, Lindenwood; Deantrell Prince, Lindenwood; Scott Lathrop, Missouri Southern; Josiah Bennett, Missouri Southern; Jordan Morrison, Missouri Southern; Patrick Bolton, Missouri Western; Malcolm Moore, Nebraska-Kearney; Blake Holtmeier, Nebraska-Kearney; Austin Panko, Pittsburg State; Dre Washington, Northwest Missouri; George Sehl, Northwest Missouri; Brenner Clemons, Pittsburg State.
TE/FB – Reese Richards, Emporia State; Matthew Wendelberger, Fort Hays State; Blake Vandenberg, Missouri Western; T.J. Schieber, Northwest Missouri.
OL – Layne Fischer, Central Missouri; DeAndre Herron, Emporia State; Estevan Arana, Emporia State; Deshaun Lawson, Lindenwood; Mitche Moore, Missouri Southern; Hayden Eatinger, Missouri Western; Zach Beard, Nebraska-Kearney; Luke Browne, Nebraska-Kearney; Tyler Easter, Northeastern State; Ryan Dodd, Pittsburg State; Bob Marco, Washburn.
DL –  Connor Flagel, Central Missouri; Carson Smith, Central Oklahoma; Donovan Walker, emporia State; Daylon Harper, Missouri Western; Tye Spies, Nebraska-Kearney; Caleb Mather, Northwest Missouri; Simanu’a Thomas, Pittsburg State; Trey Parker, Washburn; Spenser Matthews, Washburn.
LB – Jose Delgado, Fort Hays State; Cody Lindsay, Missouri Western; Darrian Bass, Missouri Western; Tyrell Robison, Missouri Western; La’More Wise, Northeastern State; Darian Morris, Northeastern State; Ethan Fugitt, Pittsburg State; Austin Tillman, Washburn.
DB – Diaron Rhodes, Central Missouri; Jackson Newman, Central Missouri; Rashad Dunningan, Fort Hays State; DeAndre James, Fort Hays State; Wesley Thomas, Lindenwood; Chris Goss, Missouri Southern; Ricky Green, Missouri Southern; Antwan Hadley, Nebraska-Kearney; Steffon Herd, Northeastern State; Devon Siers, Northeastern State; Jack Young, Northwest Missouri; Marcus Jones, Northwest Missouri; Corey Ballentine, Washburn.
K – Seth Hiddink, Central Oklahoma; Austin Morton, Emporia State.
P – Christian Fulham, Central Oklahoma; Justin Marcha, Emporia State.— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team fell to 0-2 on the season as they lost to Upper Iowa 77-68 in the final game of the Hillyard Tip Off Classic Sunday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons pulled within one at 67-66 off a three by Beau Baker with 2:16 left, but let Upper Iowa stretch the lead again. Missouri Western led by one at the half, but much like the night before against Wayne State, Missouri Western let the visitor build an early second half lead. Upper Iowa took a seven-point lead with 15:58 to go in the second half that extended to a 10-point lead with 13:03 to go.

Missouri Western finished the game 35 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range. The Griffons were out-rebounded by Upper Iowa 44-31 and outscored in the paint, 22-8 in the second half.

Cole Clearman led the team again with 22 points. He also had a team-high seven rebounds along with Seth Bonifas who chipped in 12 points. Joe Hamilton added 11 points and had a team-high four points.

Missouri Western is now 0-2 headed into a game Tuesday night at William Jewell.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The 2016-17 Griffon women’s basketball season is off to a very similar start as the 2015-16 season after an 85-51 win over Upper Iowa to close out the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday night.

It’s the second straight year Missouri Western has started with wins over Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa. Last season, the Griffons outscored the same two opponents 182-141 in the Southwest Minnesota State Classic. This season in the team’s own event, the Griffons outscored the same two opponents 163-107.

Much like last year’s MIAA championship team, this squad used a strong third quarter to spread the gap Saturday against Upper Iowa. The Griffons took a 38-27 lead to halftime on 40 percent shooting from the field, but were 59 percent in the second half, using a 21-11 third quarter to blow open a big lead. On the night, Missouri Western dropped 13 three-point shots on 30 attempts. The team also had 27 assists on 31 made field goals while turning Upper Iowa over 26 times.

Dwanisha Tate was 4-7 from behind the arch and 5-10 from the field for a team-high 16 points. She was one of five Griffons in double-figures. Erin Anderson added 11 points; Sefulu Faavae, Julia Torres and Trudy Peterson each had 10 points. Torres pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and had five steals. Chelsea Dewey had nine of the assists and added eight points.

The Griffons travel to Minnesota State for 6 p.m. tip-off on Nov. 15.

— MWSU Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western football team struggled offensively in a 44-3 loss to end the 2016 season Saturday at No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State.

The Northwest defense held the Griffons to just three points and 197 total yards of offense in the loss. The Griffons only points came on a 20-yard Tanner Pettet field goal with 5:27 to go in the first half. Missouri Western trailed 17-3 at halftime on the heels of a tremendous effort by the Griffon defense. Missouri Western limited the Bearcats to 183 yards in the first half and just one third down conversion in six tries.

Northwest’s offense got it going in the second half, outscoring the Griffons 27-0 in the second half. It was the third straight week the Griffons were shut out in the second half of a game.

The loss ended Missouri Western’s season at 4-7. It’s the first seven-loss season for the program since 1991 and the first five-game losing streak to end the season was the first time the team lost five in a row since 1995.

Josh Caldwell came 10 yards short of becoming the first Griffon back to rush for 100 yards against Northwest since Michael Hill in 2012. Caldwell finished with 92 yards on 26 carries. Corey Bertini was 9-26 through the air for 104 yards with one interception. Brock Broughton had three catches for 23 yards and Jesse Dickens had two catches for 58 yards.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team began defense of its 2015-2016 MIAA championship with a convincing 78-56 win over Southwest Minnesota State to open the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament Friday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons recovered from a 35 percent field goal shooting effort in the first half to finish 42 percent from the field on the night. Missouri Western was cold to begin the night, shooting 25 percent from three-point range through the first two quarters, then 50 percent from behind the arc in the second half. The Griffons scored 16 points off 20 Southwest Minnesota turnovers, 13 of them steals.

Dwanisha Tate led the Griffons with 16 points. The senior guard added seven rebounds. Chelsea Dewey scored 13 on the night to go with five assists. Sefulu Faavae flirted with her first career triple-double, scoring eight with five rebounds, five assists and five steals. Erin Anderson scored 10 in her first game as a Griffon. Julia Torres dropped in nine points with a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Griffons continue play in the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday when the team hosts Upper Iowa at 6:30 p.m. The Peacocks dropped their opener Friday afternoon to Fort Hays State.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team let a one-point halftime lead evaporate quickly in a 70-57 loss to Wayne State College to open the 2016-17 season at the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic on Friday night.

The Griffons took a 30-29 lead to the break off a TJ Evans layup with 30 seconds left in the first frame. Missouri Western outscored Wayne State 22-4 in the paint during the first half, but just 18-16 in the second half. Evan’s layup gave MWSU one of three leads in the first half. The Griffons led by as many as six before the break, but the Griffons couldn’t overcome a 9-0 Wayne State run to open the second half.

Missouri Western finished 43 percent from the field and just 15 percent from three-point range. The Griffons were 0-5 in the first half from behind the arc and 2-8 in the second half. Wayne State forced 12 Missouri Western turnovers to just ten assists for the home team.

Cole Clearman led the way for the Griffons with 15 points and four assists. Seth Bonifas added a career-high 12 points and seven rebounds. Beau Baker also pulled down seven boards and scored 10 points.

Missouri Western continues the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic on Sunday against Upper Iowa at 3:30 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

WARRENSBURG, MO.- The Missouri Western volleyball team fell to #16 Central Missouri 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-22) in their final conference regular season road match.

Missouri Western could not overcome a slow start in the first set, finishing with 11 kills as a team.  MWSU would regroup in the second set as they took an early 5-3 advantage, however the Jennies would gain momentum to take a 2-0 match lead.  A 4-1 run in the third set allowed the Griffons to take a 17-16.  UCM would be able to stop the run to win the match.

Lauren Murphy paced the offense with 26 assists, connecting 10 of those assist for Stephanie Doak kills.  Kayla Ruff finished with 13 digs and Audrey Keim recorded 10.  Shellby Taylor led the team with four blocks.

Missouri Western is home tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. against Lindenwood for the regular season finale.  Before the match, the Griffons will honor their four seniors as part of the senior day celebrations.

— MWSU Athletics —