Fans can get their first look at the 2011-2012 Griffon men’s and women’s basketball teams on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:30 PM as the 8th Annual Griffon Basketball Tip-Off Party will take place.

The night’s festivities will begin with the traditional basketball game pitting the MWSU Faculty against students from the Student Government Association and local media.  Then, the Griffon men’s and women’s basketball teams will be introduced followed by addresses from both Coach Smith and Coach Plett on the outlook for this years teams.

Both teams will showcase their skills with a short scrimmage followed by a slam dunk contest by the men’s team while the women will compete in a three point contest.

Admission to the event is free with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving free t-shirts, pizza & refreshments.

Western students will also be highly involved in the event competing in various contests for gift cards and cash prizes with the grand finale of the evening featuring one lucky student having the opportunity to make a half-court shot for $10,000.  Western spirit groups will also give performances.

Practice for both teams begins this Friday, October 15.

Exhibition play opens up for both teams on Thursday, November 3rd as they host Livin The Dream in an exhibition doubleheader with women’s tip set for 5:30 PM followed by the men at 7:30 PM.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western made 33 hitting errors falling 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19) on the road against regional opponent Quincy University. Alex Behnke and Tahler Johnston finished with 14 kills apiece while Stephanie Hattey finished with 39 set assists. Western falls to 9-10 on the season.

The Griffons struggled in set one getting down 11-2. The Griffons came back cutting the Hawk advantage to 13-12 after an attack error by Christine Williams of Quincy. The rest of the set would belong to Quincy as they went on a 12-6 run winning the set 25-18.

Set two was much better for the Griffons as they hit .355 with just three errors and 14 kills. Western led by as many as eight in the set cruising to the 25-21 victory. The final two sets belonged to the Hawks as Western had 20 combined hitting errors in the two sets. The Hawks had just 17 hitting errors in the whole match and seven combined in set three and four. Quincy won set three 25-17 and set four 25-19. Quincy improved to 8-9 with the victory.

Sarah Faubel led Western with 26 digs while Hattey had two service aces. Hattey also had 12 digs and one kill in the match.

The Hawks finished with 52 kills hitting .259 in the match. Beiann Joslin had 16 kills hitting .433 with only three errors. Lyndsay Kooi had 42 of the Hawks 46 set assists while Damaris Linker had 17 of Quincy’s 54 digs. Quincy also had 10 kills and four service aces.

Western will return to MIAA action on Friday, October 14 when they travel to Hays, Kan. to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers. First serve is set for 7:00 pm in Gross Memorial Coliseum.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished in third place at the Park University Fall Invite. The event was played at The Deuce @ The National in Parkville University and is being hosted by Park University. The Western finished three strokes out of second place firing a two round total of 669 (332-337). Grand View University shot a 666 (323-343) while the winner of the event was Fort Hays State University with a 654 (326-328).

Natalie Bird led the charge for Western finishing in 5th with 163 (78-85). Ana Laura Gomez of Bellevue University won the event with an 8-over 148 (75-73) while Samantha Nielsen of Fort Hays State finished in second with a 153 (74-79).

Bellevue University finished in fourth place with a 698 while Park University and Northwest Missouri State University finished fifth and sixth with 698 and 699 respectively.

Shelby Stone finished in sixth for the Griffons with a 164 (80-84) while Kristen Cooley finished in a tie for 12th with a 170 (86-84). Casi Webb and Darcy Smith rounded out the Griffons squad with a 172 and 186 respectively.

Western will play its final tournament of the fall on Sunday, October 23 and Monday, October 24 when they participate in the Truman State University Bulldog Classic in Kirksville, Mo. The event will be played at the Kirksville Country Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished in third place in their final tournament of the fall. Western played in the Park University Fall invite which was played at The Duece @ The National in Parkville, Mo. The Griffons fired a two round total of 614 (296-318) four strokes better than Bellevue University’s 618 (316-318). The top Griffon finisher was Tyler Gast, tying for 11th with a 152 (72-80).

The winner of the event was Grand View University with a 576 (294-282) which was 13 strokes better than Fort Hays State’s 589 (289-300). Avila University finished 5th with a 624 while Baker fired a 644 finishing in 6th.

Yousaf Khan of Grand View won the event with a 2-over par 142 (77-65) one stroke better than teammate Aaron Ahrendsen and Tom O’Keefe of Fort Hays State. James O’Brien and Derek Hawkins finished in a tie for 15th with a 153 while Logan Gillilan, Scott Shelton and Kenny Stone fired 155, 156 and 162 respectively.

Western wrapped up its fall playing in five events with third being their top finish. They also finished tied for 5th, 7th and 8th.

— MWSU Sports Information —