Missouri Western has struggled out of the gates this season, going 2-2 in non-conference play and now opening MIAA play with three straight losses. The Griffons defeated Colorado School of Mines and Rockhurst and lost to Quincy and Colorado Christian before conference losses to Pittsburg State, Emporia State and Missouri Southern. Missouri Western does feature the MIAA's leading scorer this season, senior post player Jessica Koch who is averaging 21.4 points per game. Koch is the only Griffon averaging double figures in points, with their second leading scorer Brittany Griswold averaging 9.9. Koch is also averaging 7.3 rebounds per game to lead Missouri Western. Western look for their first MIAA victory on Saturday in Hays, Kan. The game will tip off at 2:00 pm at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
The Fort Hays State women's basketball team will be looking to rebound from their first loss of the season on Saturday (Dec. 10) afternoon when they host Missouri Western. The Lady Tigers were handed their first loss of the season on Wednesday night against No. 15 Washburn by a score of 67-60.
Jessica Koch is climbing the record books as she currently sits in seventh in MWSU history in scoring 1,331 points which is 419 points from tying the record set by Lisa Hughes with 1,750. Koch is 30 points from being in a tie for 6th with Toni Wood. Koch is 9th all-time in three pointers made with 114 which is four back of 8th. She is also 5th all-time in free throws attempted with 396 and 7th all-time in free throws made with 297 on back of 6th.
The Griffons are 3-5 against the Lady Tigers since coach Plett took the helm in 2007. Western went 1-1 in the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 seasons against Fort Hays State but fell twice last season. The three victories against the Tigers came in St. Joseph by scores of 88-66 on January 19, 2008, 62-55 on February 4, 2009 and 76-58 on December 11, 2010. The Griffons are 0-4 in the Plett Era in Hays, Kan. The Griffons fell last season by a score of 71-68 on February 3, 2010. Koch scored 14 points and snared four rebounds in the contest.
Alicia Bell finished with eighth points and 10 rebounds while the
Kallie Schoonover dumped in 10 points.
The series between Fort Hays State and Missouri Western dates back to the 1976-77 season when FHSU knocked off the Griffons 75-69 in Hays. The teams have met 39 times in women's basketball, with Fort Hays State leading by a game, 20-19, in the all-time series. The two teams did not play between 1993-94 and 2006-07, the season when Fort Hays State joined the MIAA. As members of the MIAA, the teams have split the 10 games, with FHSU winning five of the last seven. The Griffons are 12-6 at home and 5-14 on the road. Western went 1-1 last season against the Tigers with each team winning on their own floor. The Griffons are 1-0 at home and 1-0 on the road in the vacated games. The Griffons are 2-0 on a neutral floor against Fort Hays.
