We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Category: Sports

Missouri Western women fall at Washburn 78-68

Posted on

TOPEKA, Kan. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (13-15, 8-11 MIAA) outscored Washburn (19-9, 14-5 MIAA) by eight in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome an 18-point first-half deficit, as the Ichabods beat the Griffons 78-68 on Saturday afternoon.

NOTABLES

  • Washburn held a five-point lead after a low-scoring first quarter that featured just two made baskets in the final four minutes of the quarter.
  • The second quarter proved to be the most costly for the Griffons, as the Ichabods closed the half on a 21-5 run to take a 40-22 lead at the half.
  • Katrina Roenfeldt paced the Missouri Western offense with 10 points in the first half.
  • Missouri Western used an 11-3 run to open the fourth quarter, cutting the Washburn deficit to just nine points with seven minutes left to play.
  • After Washburn stretched its lead back to 14 points in the final quarter, the Griffons fought back again to trail 70-62 with just over two minutes remaining.
  • Washburn made all six of their free throws in the final two minutes to pull away for the 10-point win.
  • The Griffons shot 46 percent in the second half compared to just 30 percent before halftime.
  • Washburn’s offensive ball movement resulted in 21 team assists.
  • The Griffons had the advantage in turnovers, forcing 18 in the game.

LEADERS

  • Roenfeldt finished the game with a team-high 15 points.
  • Jessica Davies scored 14 points with 11 of those coming in the second half.
  • Anastacia Johnson pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.

UP NEXT

  • Griffon Women’s Basketball will open play in the MIAA Championships on Wednesday, March 6 against Nebraska-Kearney. The Griffons are the No. 9 seed and Nebraska-Kearney is the No. 8 seed.

    The game will tip-off at 6 p.m. in historic Municipal Auditorium. It will be the second consecutive year the two teams meet in the opening round of the MIAA’s postseason tournament. Missouri Western made history as the first-ever No. 12 seed to win a game in the MIAA Championships with a 60-57 win over the No. 5-seeded Lopers. Nebraska-Kearney won the only meeting this season, 62-53 on Jan. 26 in Kearney.

    Tickets are available now at the Missouri Western ticket office. All-session pass tickets, which include all 18 games, are on sale for $50. Adult single session tickets are available for $20 with student tickets priced at $5. Tickets purchased in advance through the Griffon Ticket Office are cheaper than those sold at the tournament gate. To purchase tickets, call 816-271-4481 or visit the lobby of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 15 Kansas rallies to avoid upset at Oklahoma State

Posted on

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — After nearly knocking off No. 11 Texas Tech, Oklahoma State was in position to take down No. 15 Kansas.

Again, the Cowboys came up short.

Kansas escaped with a 72-67 victory Saturday, with Dedric Lawson scoring 20 points and matching a season high with 15 rebounds. He also had three steals for his 18th double-double of the season.

Quentin Grimes added 17 points for the Jayhawks (22-7, 11-5 Big 12), who have won five of their last six games.

“We did play with a sense of urgency, even thought it may not have turned out the way we wanted to, but I wouldn’t have blamed it on that at all,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “It wasn’t because we played poorly, it was just because Oklahoma State played well.”

Cam McGriff had 19 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma State (10-19, 3-13) before fouling out with 1:38 remaining. Curtis Jones had 19 points and five rebounds off the bench.

“I’ll say this about my team, they embody the spirit that I want this program to be about,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said. “They’re doing probably one of the hardest things to do, which is not allowing the results to affect the process. They’re trying to make sure that their process gives them a chance to affect the results.”

The Cowboys, who led most of the way, have lost three in a row and eight of nine, including the 84-80 overtime loss to Texas Tech three days earlier.

“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating,” McGriff said. “We just keep on building that foundation brick by brick. If we come out and continue to play like we’ve been playing, good things will come. We definitely don’t take any moral victories, but we can definitely say we’re heading in the right direction.”

McGriff’s layup and free throw with 4:02 remaining gave Oklahoma State a 67-64 lead. But the Cowboys didn’t score again, missing their last five shots. With Kansas up 68-67 and 14 seconds left, Thomas Dziagwa missed a 3-pointer.

After Lawson made two free throws, Lindy Waters had an open 3 from the right corner with seven seconds to go, but it bounced off the rim. Waters, who hit 7 of 10 from beyond the arc against Texas Tech on Wednesday, entered the day leading the Big 12 with a .469 3-point shooting percentage.

“At the end of the day,” Boynton said. “We got what we wanted, we had the best 3-point shooter in the conference. That’s why you don’t get caught up in that. You can’t. I’ll take that shot again if we had to go play it over right now.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: The Jayhawks had their worst first-half shooting percentage of the season, connecting on just 33 percent, including just 3 of 12 from 3-point range. They missed their last four of the half and the first two of the second before things got better.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys have been doing well of late with 3-pointers. They made 11 of 29 (38 percent), including 7 of 14 in the first half. That came after Oklahoma State hit a school-record 17 3-pointers in the OT loss to Texas Tech.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Kansas connected on 20 of 23 free throws while Oklahoma State was 2 of 5. There were a number of contentious calls that had the home fans booing. “I’m going to leave that alone,” Boynton said. “It is what it is, they called them. They’re not going to change it now.”

TIP-INS

Kansas outrebounded Oklahoma State 41-34, including a 19-14 advantage in the second half. . After Dziagwa and Waters combined to make 13 of 19 3-pointers against Texas Tech, the duo was a combined 5 of 16 on Saturday. . The 17 points by Grimes was the most he’s scored since he had 19 in a 77-60 loss to Iowa State on Jan. 5.

UP NEXT

Kansas: The Jayhawks visit Oklahoma on Tuesday in hopes of a season sweep. They won the first game 70-63 on Jan. 2.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys play at Baylor on Wednesday, looking to avenge their 73-69 loss at home Jan. 14.

— Associated Press —

MWSU baseball defeats No. 25 Missouri Southern to win series

Posted on

JOPLIN, Mo. – Griffon Baseball claimed a series win over No. 25 Missouri Southern with a 5-4 victory on Saturday in Joplin.

Missouri Western (7-6, 5-1) broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third and added two more in the seventh to take the series two games to one over the Lions (11-5, 4-2).

NOTABLES

  • All three games in the series were decided by one run
  • Southern had two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but scored its fourth run on what ended up being a game-ending double play
  • Zach Pych gave the Griffons their first run when he led off the third with a triple then scored on a passed ball
  • Andrew Curry drove in two with a two-out single to give MWSU a 3-0 lead
  • Fahd Shakeel drove in the first of two runs in the seventh with a single
  • Casey Danley scored the Griffons’ fifth run on a muffed throw to third while he was stealing third
  • Jacob Miller allowed just one run through an 1 2/3, but exited in the second inning after fielding a ground ball
  • After two weeks of MIAA play, MWSU is tied atop the conference standings with Central Missouri

LEADERS

  • Jacob Cooper (2-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing three hits through two innings
  • Pych went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a triple and a run scored
  • Danley went 2-for-5 with two runs scored
  • Josh Robinson went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two walks
  • Curry drove in two runs on his one hit

UP NEXT

  • MWSU was originally scheduled for a two-game home series with Southern Indiana on March 5th and 6th, that series has been canceled
  • The Griffons next scheduled series is a three-game home series with Northeastern State (2-15, 1-5), March 8-10.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball gets swept by Central Oklahoma

Posted on

EDMOND, Oklahoma – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team completed a three-game sweep of the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team on Saturday, 7-0.

Senior pitcher Gabe Littlejim got the start on the mound for the Bronchos and held Northwest (6-10, 2-3 MIAA) to two hits in six innings of work. Littlejim struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

UCO broke through with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead. The Bronchos would add a four-spot in the sixth to up their margin to 7-0.

Sophomore righty Max Spitzmiller started the contest on the bump for the Bearcats and pitched five and 2/3 innings giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits. Spitzmiller struck out six on the day.

The final Brochos run came off senior pitcher Jarret Cronin and was not earned. Freshman Gibson Brown and Thomas Henrichs also made scoreless appearances in the contest.

Northwest bats just couldn’t get hot in this MIAA matchup with the Bronchos, recording only nine hits total during the three-game set.

NOTES: Senior infielder Logan Rycraft extends his team-best reached base streak to seven games … Gibson lowered his team-best earned run average to 1.72 through 15 2/3 innings pitched … Derek Hussey and Alixon Herrera share the team lead with 21 hits on the season … Connor Quick has a team-best .357 batting average with 20 hits on the year.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri State loses at home to Drake 73-62

Posted on

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Nick McGlynn had 22 points and 13 rebounds as Drake topped Missouri State 73-62 on Saturday to win at least a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title.

Tremell Murphy had seven rebounds for Drake (23-8, 12-6).

Jarred Dixon had 18 points for the Bears (16-15, 10-8). Tulio Da Silva added 17 points. Keandre Cook had 10 points and three blocks.

The Bulldogs improve to 2-0 against the Bears on the season. Drake defeated Missouri State 74-63 on Jan. 20. The Bulldogs and the Bears next take the floor in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

— Associated Press —

Benton girls, Lafayette boys win district championships Friday

Posted on

The Benton girls and Lafayette boys each won a Class 4 District 16 championship Friday night at Winnetonka High School.

The Cardinals clobbered Smithville 54-36 for their fifth district title in six years, while the Fighting Irish won their fourth straight district championship with a 57-53 victory over Winnetonka.

In the girls game, Benton scored the first eight points of the game and they were never threatened. The Cardinals led 20-10 after the first quarter and then extended the lead to 39-19 at halftime. Smithville only got as close as 11 points in the second half as Benton improves to 23-2 this season.

Gabby Fuller led the Cards with 25 points as they advance to the Class 4 Sectionals Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. against Lincoln Prep at Liberty North High School.

In the boys game, Lafayette had to rally for a win against the Griffins. Winnetonka led the back-and-forth game after three quarter, but the Fighting Irish then used a 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter and they never trailed again.

Ike Book led Lafayette with 22 points as they improve to 18-7. The Fighting Irish will play Kansas City Southeast at 7:30 Tuesday at Liberty North High School.

Both Sectional games will air on 680 KFEQ and you can click here to listen.

Griffon baseball splits two games at Missouri Southern

Posted on

JOPLIN, Mo. – The top two teams in the MIAA baseball standings after one week of conference play met for a doubleheader Friday in Joplin and the results looked like two teams knotted at the top. Missouri Western (6-6, 4-1) lost a one-run game and won a one-run game at No. 25 Missouri Southern (11-4, 4-1).

The home team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth in game one to come back and win 5-4. There was no comeback against Anthony Castaneda in game two, a 1-0 win for the Griffons.

GAME 1
Missouri Southern 5, Missouri Western 4

  • MWSU took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the top of the eighth
  • Missouri Southern scored two in the bottom of the eighth and two more in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off win
  • A pitcher’s duel through the first six-plus innings, MWSU’s Jacob Purl held Southern to one run on four hits through six innings
  • Defending MIAA Co-Pitcher of the week Zach Parrish allowed just three hits through seven innings for Missouri Southern
  • Nolan Monthei broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run to left in the eighth inning
  • Three of MWSU’s four hits in the game all came in the eighth inning
  • Carson Dwyre (2-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in the ninth inning

GAME 2
Missouri Western 1, Missouri Southern 0

  • Anthony Castaneda (3-0) pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 12 and allowing just one hit with one walk
  • 11 of Castaneda’s strikeouts came in the first seven innings. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth
  • Casey Danley had three of the Griffons’ five hits in the game and was a home run short of the cycle
  • Fahd Shakeel, the reigning MIAA Hitter of the Week, drove in the game’s lone run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth

UP NEXT
The rubber match between the two is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday in Joplin.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat baseball drops two games at Central Oklahoma

Posted on

EDMOND, Oklahoma – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team saw its bats stymied by the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos in a doubleheader on Friday.

UCO took the opening contest in seven innings, 10-0. The Bronchos finished the sweep of the Bearcats with a 3-1 triumph in the nightcap.

Game 1
The Bronchos (8-5, 2-3 MIAA) opened with one run in the first, two in the second and one more in the third to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead over Northwest (6-9, 2-2 MIAA).

Junior pitcher Dylan Hall went the distance on the mount for Central Oklahoma, holding the Bearcats to three hits and securing nine strikeouts.

Sophomore infielder Peter Carlson, junior infielder Calvin Rudolph and senior infielder Logan Rycraft notched the three base hits for the Bearcats.

Junior pitcher Quintin Van Ackeren got the start on the mound for Northwest, going five and a third innings, giving up five hits and five runs (three earned) while striking out five.

Other pitchers to see the mound in game one for Northwest included freshman Jacob Gill, junior Tristan Ledger and senior Jarret Cronin.

Central Oklahoma added one more in the six and five in the seventh to bring their lead up to 10 runs over Northwest in just seven innings of play.

Game 2
The winning momentum of the Bronchos from game one, carried over into game two against Northwest as UCO scored a 3-1 win to sweep the doubleheader.

Central Oklahoma notched runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead over the Bearcats.

The Northwest bats just couldn’t get hot in this MIAA matchup with the Bronchos, recording only four hits in the second game.

Northwest’s lone run came in the ninth inning after senior catcher Alixon Herrera hit a one-out double to right center. Herrera was advanced to third on a single from senior catcher Jay Hrdlicka. Carlson stepped into the box and reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring Herrera. Hrdlicka was out on the play. Rudolph stepped in next, grounding out to end the game.

Junior pitcher Joe Funkhouser got the start for Northwest, pitching six and a 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs while recording three strikeouts. Freshman Gibson Brown came in to relieve Funkhouser, pitching the final three and a third. Brown did not allow a hit and walked one with three strikeouts.

NOTES: Connor Quick has reached base in 14 straight games … Quick leads the team with a .377 batting average … Peter Carlson owns a team-best five-game hit streak … Brown owns a sparkling 2.03 ERA in seven appearances this season … Brown has struck out 10 in 13 1/3 innings pitched, while allowing three earned runs.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western softball uses four-run first to defeat Cameron

Posted on

JOPLIN, Mo. – A four-run first inning was all the Missouri Western softball team needed to defeat Cameron (12-8) on a cloudy, cold Friday afternoon in Joplin. The Griffons won the game 4-2 to improve to 10-7 this season.

Cameron scored first, but the Griffs answered in the home half of the first inning. Emma Hoffart tied the game with an RBI single that scored Morgan Frost. Two batters later Brea Blanton blasted the second home run of her young career, a three-run blast to left center.

The lead held as the Griffons were able to work in three of their four pitchers in the team’s only game until MIAA play begins next weekend. Kaili Hinds pitched the first two innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits. Lexi Kinnaird (2-3) got the win, going three innings and allowing just two hits. Olivia Goodale picked up her second save of the season with three strikeouts in two innings.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western opens up conference play with a trip to Oklahoma. The Griffons play at Northeastern State on Mach 10 and at No. 15 Central Oklahoma on March 10.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest softball splits two games in Joplin

Posted on

JOPLIN, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State softball team came back from an earlier defeat in the day and scored a triumph over Rockhurst.

Cameron scored a 9-3 win over Northwest to begin the day for the Bearcats.

Northwest finished the day’s action with a 13-4 victory over Rockhurst.

Game One vs. Cameron
Northwest started game one strong in the first inning with a two-run home run from Kaitlyn Weis to put the Bearcats up, 2-0.

Cameron answered with runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 3-2 on the Bearcats.

In the bottom of the fifth, Erin Keeney hit a triple to center field to tie the game at 3-3.

Cameron rallied in the sixth scoring six runs to defeat the Bearcats, 9-3.

Game Two vs. Rockhurst
Northwest also started game two strong with Kiana Baderdeen blasting a three-run homer in the first. Olivia Daugherty followed with a homer of her own to put the Bearcats up 4-0 early.

In the second inning, the Bearcats scored a pair on a two-out RBI single from Keeney.

The Bearcats scored six in the third inning with Jaedra Moses hitting a double to center field to drive in two runs. Weis tallied an RBI single. Then Keeney homered bringing in three runs to put the Bearcats up, 12-0.

Rockhurst answered in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer from Emily Truitt to cut the lead 12-2.

Grace Ruehle homered to left field in the top of the fourth to advance the score to 13-2.

Rockhurst answered in the bottom of the fourth with two runs, but Northwest was able to secure the 13-4 victory in five innings.

Regan Thompson went the distance and struck out six while allowing four earned runs. Thompson moved to 2-1 on the season.

NOTES: Weis leads the squad with 11 RBI, four home runs and an average of .480 … Moses has a .429 average with three RBI … Baderdeen is batting .321 with seven RBI and a home run … Thompson has a 2.51 earned run average.

— Northwest Athletics —

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File