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Category: College

MWSU soccer comes up short at Augustana 1-0

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – An Augustana (1-1-1) goal in the 16th minute Friday night was the difference in an otherwise even game as the Missouri Western soccer team (1-2) lost 1-0 to the Vikings.

Julie Plonsky snuck a shot by Anna Mayer with an assist from Peyton Stenzel that gave the home team a 1-0 win over Missouri Western. It was the only of nine Augustana shots on goal to get past the Griffons’ freshman goalkeeper. The Vikings’ nine shots on goal to the Griffons’ three was the biggest discrepancy on the stat sheet. Missouri Western had 10 shots to Augustana’s 14. Eleven of Augie’s shots came after halftime to make the final tally look a little different.

Lillian Davis led Missouri Western with four shots. Mayer ended with a season-high eight saves. It was the first time this season the freshman played all 90 minutes.

The Griffons stay in Sioux Falls for the weekend, playing at the University of Sioux Falls (1-2), Sunday at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri Western volleyball sweeps Arkansas-Fort Smith

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WICHITA, Kan. – The 25th-ranked Missouri Western volleyball team (6-3) began its weekend in Wichita with a 3-0 sweep of Arkansas – Fort Smith (5-4) Friday. It was the first of three matches the Griffons will play at the 2018 Jet Classic hosted by Newman University.

After comfortably winning their first set with a .324 team hitting percentage, the Griffons’ second set was the most competitive. After three straight points by the Lions, Marian Carbin called a timeout with the Griffons down 19-17 in the second set. The two point deficit would end up being the largest deficit of the day for the Griffons, as they went on to score four straight points and secure the 25-23 set win. Missouri Western completed the sweep with a 25-21 win in set three that saw the Griffons limit Arkansas-Fort Smith to a .190 hitting percentage, .161 in the match.

Stephanie Doak continued her impressive early season play, leading the Griffons in kills once again with 13 and added a team-high two blocks. Sam Duncan recorded 10 kills. Lauren Murphy led all players with 36 total assists. Murphy also led all players with three service aces. Audrey Keim led Missouri Western with 15 digs to add her to her 147 total digs on the season.

Missouri Western will play its remaining two matches of the tournament on Saturday. The Griffons next match will be against host Newman, Saturday at noon.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest volleyball defeats Ouachita Baptist in three sets

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WICHITA, Kansas – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team scored a 3-0 sweep over Ouachita Baptist at the Jet Classic. Northwest won by set scores of 25-20, 25-22, 25-22.

Northwest (6-3 overall) got a match-high 13 kills from Maddy Bruder. Maddy Ahrens recorded her third double-double of the season with 29 assists and 13 digs. Olivia Nowakowski posted a team-best 14 digs. Hallie Sidney was credited with four blocks.

The opening set featured 12 ties and five lead changes before Northwest closed it out on a 5-0 run. The run was begun when Nowakowski notched a pair of service aces. Sofia Schleppenbach got a solo block for the clinching point to give the Bearcats a 25-20 victory.

Northwest held an 18-13 lead in the second set before Ouachita Baptist rallied to knot it at 18-18. But Northwest refused to yield and answered with a 4-0 spurt that led to a 25-22 triumph.

The Bearcats trailed 10-7 early in the third set before a 5-0 run gave Northwest its first lead of the final set. The run was keyed by a pair of blocks from Sidney and Elkins. Northwest would go on to take the third set, 25-22.

Northwest will return to the court on Saturday for a pair of matches against St. Edward’s (10 a.m.) and Newman (6 p.m.).

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou’s Porter selected to attend NCAA Elite Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete Symposium

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COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou sophomore forward Jontay Porter is one of 14 Division I players selected to attend the NCAA Elite Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete Symposium from Sept. 7-9 at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. He’ll be joined by his father, Mizzou assistant coach Michael Porter Sr., at the event.

This is third annual symposium, which is designed for men’s basketball student-athletes who have an interest in continuing their playing careers professionally. Porter is the first Mizzou Basketball representative to attend the symposium since its inception.

“I’m honored­ to be selected to attend the Elite Student-Athlete Symposium and represent Mizzou,” Porter said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to continue preparing for the next level and life after college. I’m excited to grow and bring back what I learn to my teammates.”

An important piece of the NCAA Leadership Development program, the symposium is intended to educate college players on the expectations and responsibilities of being a professional athlete as well as planning post-professional career opportunities. The weekend will include a former student-athlete panel session, agent and players’ union discussions, engagement with professional leagues and a seminar on personal branding.

Porter appeared in all 33 games as a freshman last season for Mizzou and earned a share of the 2017-18 SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Porter ranked sixth in all of the SEC in rebounding while leading the league’s freshmen.

After an impressive rookie campaign, Porter tested his NBA Draft stock earlier this spring before withdrawing his name and returning for his sophomore season at Mizzou. Porter returns as a key piece for a team coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State soccer gets blanked by Truman State

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The Truman State Bulldogs defeated the Northwest Missouri State women’s soccer team 2-0 at Chillicothe High School Friday.

The Bulldogs first goal came from Chance Douglass in the 35th minute of the first half which was assisted by Chloe Hollander, shortly followed by a goal from Hanna Hickey, from Douglass in the 41st minute.

The Bulldogs move to 3-0 on the season, while the Bearcats fall to 1-2. The Bearcats will be in action again next Friday, September 14 at the University of Central Missouri.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons upset No. 5 Fort Hays State 23-13

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ST. JOSEPH – Turnovers, big-time defensive and special teams plays along with opportune offensive plays led the Missouri Western football team (1-1) to its first win over a top-5 ranked team since 2012 on Thursday night, 23-13 over No. 5 Fort Hays State (1-1). It was Fort Hays State’s first regular season loss since Nov. 5, 2016.

The Missouri Western defense picked off Fort Hays State quarterback Jacob Mezera three times, all ending what appeared to be scoring opportunities for the defending MIAA champions. Griffon defenders also broke up nine Fort Hays State passes on the night. The Griffons never trailed, but were tied twice, and always managed to get the plays or drives they needed to stay in control. Derek Gray Jr.’s six-yard touchdown run with 14:22 left in the game put Missouri Western up 17-10, a lead too great for Fort Hays State to overcome. James Huskey iced the game when a rugby-style punt when right to the senior linebacker who dove past the pylon 27 yards later to give the Griffons a 23-13 lead with 8:58 to go.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Griffon defense held a usually potent Fort Hays State run game to just 32 total yards on 17 carries. Missouri Western’s efforts stopping the run forced the Tigers to pass. Mezera threw for 338 yards and a touchdown, but had the three interceptions and was sacked twice. The Griffons rushed for 224 yards, spreading the wealth. Dom Marino led the rushing attack again with 74 yards on 13 carries and 13-yard first quarter touchdown run that put MWSU up 7-0. Missouri Western’s punt return team helped the offense with 117 yards on five returns. Huskey had the non-traditional punt return TD, the first by a Griffon since Brandynn Clark in 2015. Brandin Dandridge returned three punts for 86 yards, including a 58-yard return that set up a short field for Marino’s eventual touchdown run.

TOP PERFORMERS
The Griffons spread the love offensively. Six players registered at least one rush in the game. Gray and Marino each had rushing touchdowns. Brock Broughton was the only Griffon with more than one catch in the game as Marino needed just 78 yards passing on 7-of-17 attempts on the night, but he spread the ball to six different receivers. Luke Theis split punting duties with Jack Rasmussen and shined. Theis averaged 44 yards per punt with two inside the 20. His 53-yard punt with 4:38 left pinned the Tiger offense at its own 8-yard line down by 10. Jabbar Miles had two interceptions deep in Griffon territory, broke up another pass and was tied for second on the team with seven tackles. Anthony Williams led the Griffons with eight stops.

UP NEXT
The schedule doesn’t get much easier next week for Missouri Western as the Griffons will face a ranked opponent for the third-straight week. Next up is No. 21-ranked Central Missouri (1-1) in Warrensburg. The Mules bounced back from a heartbreaking season opening loss at Fort Hays State with a 62-10 win over Northeastern State, Thursday night. Central Missouri put up 608 yards of offense.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 6 Bearcats use big second half to defeat Washburn 38-17

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TOPEKA, Kansas – The Northwest Missouri State football team used a second-half surge to post a 38-17 win over the Washburn Ichabods Thursday night at Yager Stadium.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Braden Wright rushed for a game-high 118 yards and two touchdowns. Wright added 233 yards passing and a score through the air.

The Bearcat defense limited the Ichabods to four first downs in the second half after allowing 14 in the opening 30 minutes of action.

Northwest recorded 17 tackles-for-loss and five quarterback sacks in the victory. Northwest had nine different players tally a tackle-for-loss and five different players record sacks.

Northwest (2-0 overall) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Strayhorn. His score capped a 9-play, 59-yard drive that took 3:19 off the clock.

Washburn (1-1 overall) evened it up at 7-7 on its next drive with a 24-yard scoring strike from Blake Peterson to James Letcher Jr. with 5:35 left in the first quarter.

The Ichabods took a 14-7 advantage with 10:09 remaining in the second quarter on a 39-yard pass from Peterson to James Brania-Happ. The drive included seven plays and went for 77 yards in 2:55.

Northwest knotted the score up at 14-14 on a 27-yard scamper by Braden Wright with 7:11 left in the second quarter. Wright drove the Bearcats 62 yards in eight plays in 2:51.

The Bearcats turned the ball over twice in the opening half. Northwest was able to force a turnover when Chance Hall intercepted a pass on the five-yard line to end a Washburn drive in the second quarter.

Washburn opened the scoring in the second half with a 35-yard field goal by Perry Schmiedeler.

Northwest answered back with an 11-play, 77-yard drive that was finished off by Wright, who carried a handful of Ichabod defenders into the end zone. Wright’s 17-yard touchdown run gave Northwest a 21-17 advantage.

Wright added a 33-yard scramble to put Northwest in field goal position late in the third quarter. After the drive stalled, placekicker Parker Sampson banked in a 39-yard field goal off the right upright to give Northwest a 24-17 lead with 2:38 left in the quarter.

Chase White caught a 14-yard scoring strike from Wright with 12:42 left in the fourth quarter to give Northwest a 31-17 advantage.

Josh Caldwell capped the scoring when he plowed in from 17 yards out on a 4th and 2 with 2:01 left in the game. Caldwell’s score gave Northwest a 38-17 lead over Washburn.

The Bearcats will return home for Family Weekend on Sept. 15 against Missouri Southern. Kick is set for 1:30 p.m. at Bearcat stadium.

NOTES: Northwest has defeated Washburn 14 straight times … Northwest has won 24 of the last 25 meetings between the two teams … Northwest has not allowed a rushing touchdown in 15 consecutive games … theBearcat defense has not allowed an opposing rusher reach 100 yards for the 44th straight game.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons get set for No. 5 Fort Hays State in home opener Thursday

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ST. JOSEPH – The early season gauntlet continues this week for Griffon Football as Missouri Western’s 2018 home opener welcomes the defending MIAA Champions and fifth-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers to Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.  The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ or you can click here to listen.

Missouri Western dropped the season opener at then-No. 5 Northwest Missouri last week, 28-6. A visibly improved Griffon team moved the ball up and down the field against the vaunted Bearcat defense, but saw drives stalled by penalties and missed opportunities. Missouri Western totaled 324 yards of offense against the Northwest defense that limited opponents to 213 yards per game a season ago. A Griffon defense dotted with new names gave up 378 yards to Northwest, but 182 of those yards came on three long touchdown plays, all at least 34 yards and two more than 50. Missouri Western held Northwest to just one third quarter first down on four drives. Fort Hays State trailed Central Missouri for the first 45 minutes of its home opener last week, but a 5-yard touchdown pass with three minutes remaining clinched a 20-16 victory for the Tigers. Down 16-6 late in the fourth quarter, Fort Hays scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes to complete the comeback. The game winning score came three plays after an unforced fumble by Central Missouri’s back-up quarterback at the UCM 3-yard line.

Missouri Western quarterback Dom Marino led the Griffons with 75 rushing yards on 14 carries and passed for 226 yards without turning the ball over. Keylan Mack was Marino’s go-to target for much of the game, pulling in seven catches for 67 yards. Elijah Cunningham caught three passes, but averaged 21 yards per reception, totaling 64 receiving yards. Transfer tight end Luke Vang caught four passes for 50 yards. James Huskey didn’t look like a linebacker playing his first MIAA game since 2016. The redshirt senior led the Griffon defense with eight total tackles, 2.5 for loss. The Griffons also recorded a pair of sacks against the Bearcats. Kwentin Polk got a strip sack in the fourth quarter that ended a Northwest drive in Missouri Western territory. Tyler Basch went 2-for-3 on field goal attempts in week one. The senior was named to the Fred Mitchell Award preseason watch list. After making his last 10 attempts of 2017, Basch missed his first attempt of the 2018 season, but was true on his other two to give the Griffons their only points last week at Northwest.

Fort Hays State gave up 508 yards of offense to Central Missouri, most of it coming in the first half. The Mules rushed for 277 yards and passed for 263. Fort Hays State totaled 327 yards of offense, 134 on the ground and 226 through the air. Charles Tigner leads the Tigers on the ground with 83 rushing yards. Tigner averaged 7.3 yards per carry against Central Missouri. Jacob Mezera was 19-of-40 through the air for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Layne Bieberle caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Doyin Jibowu led four Tigers with double-digit tackle numbers. Jibowu had 12 total tackles with one sack. Tanner Hoekman had an interception and broke up two other passes.

The game is the second of three-straight against ranked opponents for the Griffons. Next week, Missouri Western travels to No. 21 Central Missouri, pitting the Griffons against the MIAA’s top-three teams from 2017 in the first three weeks of the 2018 season. Missouri Western’s first three opponents this season combined to win 28 games last season, while the other eight teams the Griffons will play this year won a total of 34 games in 2017.

Fans will find a new Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium feature this week as the Bill Snyder Pavilion debuts. On Griffon Football game days, the “Pavilion Party Deck,” is open to all fans with a ticket to the game. Fans will find food provided by VanZinos BBQ and Anheuser-Busch products provided by Hi-Ho Bar and Grill. The pavilion was dedicated this summer in honor of the St. Joseph native and legendary Kansas State football head coach. Snyder also attended Missouri Western, briefly, when it was St. Joseph Junior College. The pavilion was conceptualized and donated by Steve Craig.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU basketball gets four ESPN Big Monday games as 2018-2019 schedule is completed

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the 13th year in a row Kansas men’s basketball will be featured four times on ESPN Big Monday, according to the 2018-19 Big 12 Conference schedule released by the Conference Wednesday. And for the 27th-consecutive season, dating back to 1992-93, every game on the Kansas men’s basketball schedule will be televised.

Kansas will have 31 of its 33 contests televised on the ESPN family of networks. Those 31 games will also be available via the ESPN app. Among those 31 games are the six games (two exhibition, four early-season) produced by the Jayhawk Television Network. KU fans can now see those six games throughout the state of Kansas and in the Kansas City Metro Area on KMCI (38 The Spot, Kansas City), Spectrum Sports, Midco Sports Network, and Cox Cable. They will also be available blackout-free, nationwide on ESPN+.

CBS will broadcast two games – Saturday, Feb. 2, against Texas Tech in Allen Fieldhouse and Saturday, March 2, at Oklahoma State.

The Big 12 opener for Kansas will be against Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas, 14-time defending Big 12 regular-season champion, will play each conference foe twice in the round-robin format that began in 2011-12.

This season’s ESPN Big Monday appearances will start with a home contest against Texas on Jan. 14. KU is 7-3 against Texas on ESPN Big Monday, including a 4-0 mark in Allen Fieldhouse. KU will then host Iowa State the following Monday, Jan. 21. The Jayhawks are 6-2 versus the Cyclones on Big Monday, including 3-1 at home. Kansas will play TCU on ESPN Big Monday for the first time on Feb. 11 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Jayhawks close out their ESPN Big Monday schedule when they host Sunflower Showdown foe Kansas State on Feb. 25. KU is 6-3 versus K-State on ESPN Big Monday, including 1-0 at home.

Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996-97, Kansas is 65-18 all-time on ESPN Big Monday (37-1 at home and 28-17 on the road), including 45-12 under head coach Bill Self (26-0 at home and 19-12 on the road). Additionally, KU has won 30-straight Big Monday games in Allen Fieldhouse. KU has won its last 10 ESPN Big Monday contests.

Kansas released its non-conference schedule in June. It features contests against perennial powers Michigan State to open the regular season Nov. 6 in Indianapolis in the Champions Classic, Marquette in the Preseason NIT on Nov. 21 in Brooklyn, and either Tennessee or Louisville in the NIT two nights later. Additionally, the Jayhawks will host Stanford Dec. 1, and defending NCAA champion Villanova Dec. 15, in Allen Fieldhouse. KU will play at Arizona State (Dec. 22) and at Kentucky (Jan. 26) in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

KU will officially tip off the 2018-19 season with the 34th annual Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Sept. 28, in Allen Fieldhouse; festivities start at 6:30 p.m.

Preseason top-5 in most outlets, Kansas returns two starters and six letterwinners from last season’s 31-8 team that advanced to KU’s 15th Final Four and won an NCAA-record-breaking 14th-straight regular-season conference title, a streak which started in 2004-05. The 2017-18 Jayhawks also won the Big 12 Tournament and the Hoophall Miami Invitational. KU entered the 2018 NCAA Championship as a No. 1 seed for the third-straight and eighth time in school history.

Senior guard Lagerald Vick (12.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and junior center Udoka Azubuike (13.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are Kansas’ two returning starters from last year’s Final Four team. Azubuike led the nation with a 77.0 field goal percentage in 2017-18. That mark broke the Kansas and Big 12 single-season records, and ranks second all-time in NCAA history.

Other returning regulars include sophomore guard Marcus Garrett (4.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg), sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa (4.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and junior forward Mitch Lightfoot (3.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 blocks per game).

Kansas welcomes nine newcomers, three of whom have been in the program for more than a year. Junior forward Dedric Lawson and his brother, sophomore K.J. Lawson, transferred from Memphis following the 2016-17 season, as did sophomore guard Charlie Moore from California. Three other newcomers – guards Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes, and forward David McCormack – had stellar high school careers in 2017-18, culminating in their being named McDonald’s All-Americans. Additionally, Kansas City standout guard Ochai Agbaji will attempt to have an immediate impact his freshman year at KU.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Former Tiger Frericks signs professional contract in Germany

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former Mizzou Women’s Basketball player Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.) signed a professional contract with Herner Turn Club in Germany, the club announced Sunday. Frericks played a key role in Mizzou’s 2016 and 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, averaging double-digit scoring figures and leading the team in rebounding both seasons.

Frericks, who graduated from Mizzou in May, earned Second Team All-SEC nods twice (2015-16, 2017-18) while playing in the Black & Gold. After missing the entire 2016-17 season due to a knee injury, Frericks returned for her senior campaign in 2017-18, where she was Mizzou’s second-leading scorer with 18.5 ppg and led the team in rebounding with 7.6 rpg. In 2015-16, Frericks earned Second Team All-SEC honors for the first time after scoring 12.1 ppg and leading the team in rebounding with 7.7 rpg. During her sophomore campaign (2014-15), Frericks led Mizzou in points per game (13.2 ppg), total rebounds (327), rebounds per game (9.9 rpg) and blocked shots (46). Her marks of 327 rebounds, 9.9 rpg and 46 blocked shots rank third, fifth and ninth, respectively, on the individual season records list.

“So many people have helped me, supported me, challenged me, coached me and encouraged me along the way,” Frericks said. “It’s pretty cool to look back and see where this journey started and where I am now and all the people that have impacted my life through basketball. I’m so grateful for this experience and so happy I never put a limit to where I wanted to go. There is a lot I can say about what Mizzou and the Mizzou Women’s Basketball program has done for me. I owe a lot to Coach P, the coaching staff, and my teammates. Coach P and her program encouraged and pushed me to grow in my confidence not only as a player, but a person as well. I was challenged to be my personal best in all areas on and off the court. I’m very thankful for everything Mizzou has done to help equip me for this next step as member of the Herner Turn Club.”

Frericks closed her career as one of 35 Mizzou players to score 1,000 points, finishing 11th all-time at 1,433 points. Among program records, she ranks second in rebounds (1,032), fourth in rebounding average (8.1), fifth in blocked shots (132), seventh in field goal percentage (.510) and ninth in free throws made (327).

— Mizzou Athletics —

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