Setting the Scene:
The Griffons snapped a six game losing streak on Wednesday night defeating rival Northwest Missouri State 62-51 in the fieldhouse. Western also earned their first MIAA victory of the season and first home victory of year. The Griffons are 3-8 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play. Western hosts the Lincoln Blue Tigers, a team Western has defeated in 23 straight games. Western did not pick a victory in December but are off to a 1-0 start to begin the new year. The Blue Tigers are off to a  solid start opening the season 9-2 overall and 4-2 in Their two losses have come against Pittsburg State on Wednesday night and Fort Hays State back on November 30, 2011. The Blue Tigers had won five straight games before falling on Wednesday. The Blue Tigers are 6-0 on the road this season and 3-0 in MIAA play. Their road MIAA victories have come against Southwest Baptist, Missouri Southern and Central Missouri.

Koch Climbing the Record Books:
Jessica Koch is climbing the record books as she currently sits in sixth in MWSU history in scoring 1,411 points which is 339 points from tying the record set by Lisa Hughes with 1,750. Koch is 20 points from being in a tie for 5th with Julie Sherwood. Koch is 8th all-time in three pointers made with 120. She is also 5th all-time in free throws attempted with 413 and 5th all-time in free throws made with 313. Koch has scored in double figures in 21 straight games dating back to last season while scoring 20 or more points in nine of those games. She has scored in double figures in 38 of her last 39 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.

Griffons against LU in the Plett Era:
The Griffons are 2-0 against the Blue Tigers in the Plett era. Western defeated the Blue Tigers twice last season by scores of 67-65 on January 8 in Jefferson City, Mo. and 66-34 on February 16 in St. Joseph, Mo.

Coaches vs. Each Program:
Head coach Lynn Plett is just 2-0 all time against the Blue Tigers. Plett is 1-0 in St. Joseph and 1-0 in Jefferson City. Katie Vaughn is 0-2 all time against MWSU.

Series vs. the Blue Tigers:
The Griffons and the Blue Tigers first met in 1980 in the NAIA women's basketball national tournament. The Blue Tigers got the best of the Griffons 65-62. The Griffons have controlled the series the rest of the way winning 23 straight. Western won the first home game in 1987, 55-46 and the first road game 59-55 on January 17, 1990. The Griffons are 11-0 in St. Joseph and 10-0 in Jefferson City. Western is 2-1 on a neutral floor and had to vacate one neutral site victory in 2006 due to NCAA violations.

Griffon struggles at home this season:
The Griffons have struggled at home this season going 1-3 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play. Last season the Griffons went 10-3 overall and 8-3 in MIAA contests. Western is getting outscored by 8.5 points per game (68.5-60.0) and but are outrebounding their opponents 40.8 to 40.2. They are averaging 11.2 assists per game to their opponents 16.0 and turning the ball over 20 times per game to their opponents 17.5. The Griffons are shooting 36.5-percent (84-230) from the field and just 27.8-percent (20-72) from long range. They are shooting the ball well at the free throw line making  78.8-percent (52-66) from the charity stripe. Jessica Koch and Brittany Griswold are scoring 18.0 and 12.8 points per game respectively. Koch also leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game but just has seven assists to her 15 turnovers in the four home games.

Western on the road this season:
Western is 2-4 this season on the road this season with both their victories coming against non-conference opponents. They defeated Colorado School of Mines 65-57 on November 18 and Rockhurst University 57-50 on November 22. They have fell to Pittsburg State 82-57, Fort Hays State 70-48, #21 Washburn 87-63 and to Division I opponent Nebraska-Omaha, 64-62. Western is getting outscored by 9.7 per game and out rebounded by 7.7 per game. They are shooting just 31.5-percent from the field and 26.2-percent from long range. Jessica Koch leads the charge averaging 24.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on the road. She has dished out 21 assists and come away with 14 steals.

Griffon struggles in MIAA play:
Western has also struggled opening up MIAA play. Western is 1-2 at home and 0-3 on the road. Western lost their MIAA season opener 82-57 in Pittsburg, Kan. before falling in their home opener 66-48 against Emporia State. Missouri Southern beat the Griffons for the second straight season at home 66-62 on December 7, 2011. Western fell in their last two games against Fort Hays State 70-48 and #21 Washburn 87-63. Western finally got on track with a 62-51 victory over Northwest. The Griffons are getting outscored by 13.7 points per game and out rebounded by 6.2. Western is shooting just 31.7-percent from the field and 29.9-percent from long range. They do shoot free throws well making 76-of-103 of their shots. Koch is averaging 19.2 points per game while Griswold is pitching in 11.2.

Freshman busting out:
In her last three game freshman Alex Saxen has given the Griffons the boost they have needed off the bench. She is averaging 24 minutes of action making 9-of-19 field goals and 5-of-13 long range shots. She is a perfect 15-of-15 from the free throw line and has five steals while averaging 12.7 points per game.

The Last Time:
For the first time this season Jessica Koch did not attempt a free throw in a game. She had went 13 games in a row where she had attempted at least one free throw. The season she is shooting 87.9 percent from the foul line making 58-66 attempts including a career best 13-of-14 in a victory over Rockhurst earlier this season.

Griffon Stuggles on Saturday's:
The Griffons are 0-6 on Saturday's this season as they have fallen to Quincy, Colorado Christian, Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Washburn and Nebraska-Omaha. The Griffons are 0-2 at home on Saturday and 0-3 when games are played in the afternoon on Saturday's. Western fell to Empoira State, Fort Hays and Omaha in afternoon games. They are 0-1 in afternoon games at home.

Previewing the Blue Tigers:
Vivian Essuon, last season's leading scorer, is off to another hot start in her senior campaign (15.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg), and she's not alone. A revamped roster featuring 10 new faces and a ball-movement offense that has allowed each of them a chance to shine has led Lincoln to its best start to a season in over 15 years. Four players are averaging double-digit scoring, including Essuon, Dahlia Booker (10.5 ppg.), Arriana Walker (10.6) and Freddie Sims (11.5). Walker has come off the bench to lead the team with 41 assists and 35 steals while Cierra Emerson is second on the team with 20 assists and 24 steals.

Coming up Next:
The Griffons will wrap up their home stand on Wednesday, January 11 against Truman State Univesity. Game time is set for 1:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse. Western is 2-0 against Lincoln since the rejoined the MIAA.