Setting the Scene:
The Griffons have won both games at home since the calendar turned 2012. They defeated Northwest Missouri 62-51 last Wednesday followed with a 74-66 win over Lincoln on Saturday. The Griffons are led by the MIAA's top scorer in
Jessica Koch, who is averaging 21.5 points per game, five points better than the next two leaders in the conference (Vivian Essuon-Lincoln; Nicole Caddell-Central Missouri). Koch had 28 in the win against the Blue Tigers while also dishing out seven assists. Truman has dropped their last three games. Truman suffered their second one-point loss in a conference game this year when they fell 58-57 to Northwest Missouri on Saturday. Truman is 8-4 overall and 3-4 in MIAA. They are 3-2 on the road overall and 2-2 on the road in MIAA play.
Koch Climbing the Record Books:
Jessica Koch is climbing the record books as she currently sits in fifth in MWSU history in scoring 1,439 points which is 311 points from tying the record set by Lisa Hughes with 1,750. Koch is 33 points from being in a tie for 4th with Jill Johnson. Koch is 8th all-time in three pointers made with 122. She is also 4th all-time in free throws attempted with 420 and 5th all-time in free throws made with 317. Koch has scored in double figures in 22 straight games dating back to last season while scoring 20 or more points in 10 of those games. She has scored in double figures in 39 of her last 40 games. She has also recorded three double-doubles this season which includes her last game against Northwest when she had 12 points and 12 rebounds. She has recorded 14 double-doubles in her career.
Coaches vs. Each Program:
Lynn Plett is 5-3 all-time agains the Bulldogs. He is 2-2 in Kirksville, and 3-1 in St. Joseph. Truman head coach Mike Smith is 2-4 against the Griffons. The Bulldogs are 1-2 in Kirksville and 1-2 in St. Joseph.
Series vs. the Bulldogs:
Missouri Western leads the overall series 46-16 and has a 26-5 advantage in games played in St. Joseph. Truman's last win against the Griffons on the road came in 2009 as they won 71-62. The Griffons swept both games from the Bulldogs last season winning 62-53 in Kirksville and 68-48 in St. Joseph. The Griffons shot 46% from the field against Truman last season and
Jessica Koch averaged 17.5 points.
About the Griffons:
All-conference senior
Jessica Koch is the leader of the Griffons this year with her 21.5 points per game average. She scored a season-high 30 in a loss earlier this year to Nebraska-Omaha. Koch is shooting nearly 43% from the floor with 18 three-pointers and pulling down over seven rebounds per game. The Griffons are averaging just 60 points per game this season and shooting as a team just 34% from the floor and 26% beyond the arc. Missouri Western has a minus-5 rebounding disadvantage and turns the ball over nearly 20 times a game.
On the Internet:
If you can't make it to the game you can watch live stats at http://www.sidearmstats.com/missouri/wbball/xlive.htm. You can listen to the game at http://www.gogriffons.com/webcast.asp and you can watch the game at www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=289 for a minimal cost.
