Setting the Scene:
Western is 6-16 overall and 4-12 in MIAA play. The Griffons will look for their first MIAA road victory on Wednesday, February 15 when they travel to Jefferson City, Mo. to take on the Lincoln Blue Tigers (13-9, 7-9 MIAA). Western has lost seven of their last nine games and their last ten road games. Western is 0-8 on the road in MIAA games. The Blue Tigers are 3-3 in their last six games and are 5-6 at home and 2-6 at home in MIAA games. Western travels to Kirksville, Mo. Saturday, February 18 when they take on the Truman State Bulldogs at 1:00 pm in Kirksville, Mo. Western has won 24 straight against Lincoln and four straight against Truman.
Koch Climbing the Record Books:
Jessica Koch is climbing the record books as she currently sits in second in MWSU history in scoring 1,687 points which is 63 points from tying the record set by Lisa Hughes with 1,750. Koch is 6th all-time in three pointers made with 142. She is also 2nd all-time in free throws attempted with 495 and is 1st all-time in free throws made with 373. Koch has scored in double figures in 32 straight games dating back to last season while scoring 20 or more points in 18 of those games. She has scored in double figures in 49 of her last 50 games. She has also recorded three double-doubles this season which includes the 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 3-0 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. This season the Griffons defeated the Blue Tigers 74-66 on January 7 in St. Joseph, Mo.
Coaches vs. Each Program - LU:
Head coach Lynn Plett is just 3-0 all time against the Blue Tigers. Plett is 2-0 in St. Joseph and 1-0 in Jefferson City. Katie Vaughn is 0-3 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 24 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 12-0 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.
Coaches vs. Each Program - TSU:
Lynn Plett is 6-3 all-time agains the Bulldogs. He is 2-2 in Kirksville, and 4-1 in St. Joseph. Truman head coach Mike Smith is 2-5 against the Griffons. The Bulldogs are 1-2 in Kirksville and 1-3 in St. Joseph.
Series vs. the Bulldogs:
Missouri Western leads the overall series 47-16 and has a 27-5 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. Western won early this season by a score of 65-64 on January 11.
Curry Stats from 2006-2007:
Curry has scored in double digits in 12 straight games including scoring 22 in her last two games in 2006-2007. She scored in double figures in 22-of-26 games including scoring 40 in her second game as a Griffon against BYU-Hawaii. She made 16-of-20 field goal attempts and had 10 or more field goals in a game three times. She also made at least one three in 25 out of 26 games.
Points in the paint success:
Since the turn of the new year the Griffons are 4-8 in MIAA play. Western has had a lot of success going inside outscoring their opponents 332-276 in the paint. Western outscored Northwest Missouri State 24-12, Lincoln 44-30, Truman State 28-24, Southwest Baptist 40-20, Pittsburg State 26-18, Washburn 26-20, Fort Hays State 44-34 and Northwest Missouri in Maryville by a score of 24-12. In five of their six wins this season the Griffons have outscored their opponents in the paint.
Western on the road this season:
Western is 2-10 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, Division I opponent Nebraska-Omaha, 64-62, Central Missouri 72-67 Southwest Baptist by a score of 100-99 in overtime, Emporia State 73-65, MIssouri Southern 83-73, #13 Arkansas Tech 81-75 and Northwest by a score of 72-71 in overtime. Western is getting outscored by 7.4 per game and out rebounded by 5.1 per game. They are shooting just 36.8-percent from the field and 37.1-percent from long range.
Jessica Koch leads the charge averaging 26.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on the road. She has dished out 46 assists and come away with 29 steals.
Western at home this season:
Western is 4-5 at home this season. Western is getting outscored 6.1 per game at home and outrebounded by 2.9 rebounds per game. Western's oppoents have dished out 16 more assists but have turned the ball over 10 more times. The Griffons have shot 38.5 percent from the floor but just 68-percent from the free throw line. Koch is averaging 19.7 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game at home.
