MWSU Game Notes | FHSU WBB Page | Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video | MIAA Live Stats

This Saturday the Griffs return home as they host Fort Hays State in the MIAA opener with tip time set for 1:30 PM.  Hays enters the week 5-0 and will come off a game at Central Missouri on Thursday.

Get your tickets at gogriffons.com, call 816-271-4481 or pick them up from our office located in Looney Complex 229 and is open 8 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday.  Tickets may be purchased on game day beginning 90 minutes prior to tip off at the fieldhouse.

Griffon Notes
• This marks the 38th season of Griffons women's basketball
• The Griffons will be under 2nd year head coach Rob Edmisson who guided the Griffons to a 16-12 overall record and 8-10 in MIAA play. The Griffons went 1-1 in the MIAA tournament a year ago defeating Pittsburg State 71-67 and falling to #13 Central Missouri 54-53. Coach Edmisson is 10-1 in November under the Griffons after starting 4-0 this season.
• Edmisson is 12-4 in non-conference games under the Griffons with six of those victories coming against GLVC teams. He is 1-2 against MIAA opponents in non-conference games falling to Truman and Central Missouri and defeating Pittsburg State.
• Edmisson won a NAIA National Championship at Oklahoma State University in 2011-12.
• This marks the 40th meeting with the Fot Hays State Tigers. The Tigers lead the series 23-17 after winning both games a season ago.
• With their victory over Chadron State to open the season in the fieldhouse the Griffons improved to 18-7 since 1988-89 in season openers. The Griffons are now 11-3 at home, 6-4 on a neutral floor and 1-0 on the road. Last season the Griffons defeated the University of Missouri - Kansas City by a score of 68-51 on November 9, 2012 in Kansas City, Mo. The Griffons had to vacate their 79-60 victory on November 17, 2006 vs. Lincoln University due to NCAA violations.
• In MIAA home openers since the 1989-1990 season the Griffons are 16-7 in MIAA hope openers with one victory vacated in 2006-07 due to NCAA violations.
• The Griffons are 12-11 since joining the MIAA in season openers with one victory vacated in 2006 due to NCAA violations...The Griffons are 6-8 overall on the road and 6-3 at home in MIAA openers (since 1989-1990).
• Since 1988-89 the Griffons are 3-3 in games played on December 7. They are 2-2 at home 1-1 on the road.
• This season the Griffons return eight players from a season ago and bring in nine new players which include six junior college transfers and three freshman.
• The Fort Hays State Tigers are currently 5-0 on the season. Four of their five games have been played in Hays. The Tigers have beaten its opponents by over 40 points per game. They have five players scoring in double figures with Katelyn Edwards leading the way with 17. Kate Lehman is averaging 13.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
• The Griffons were picked to finish 8th in both the Coaches and Media MIAA Preseason polls. 

Coaches vs. Each Program (FHSU):
This marks the third meeting for MWSU head coach Rob Edmisson against the Tigers. His is 0-2 falling at home and on the road last season. In the last 10 meetings the Griffons are  just 4-8 against the Lady Tigers. During that span the Griffons are 4-2 in St. Joseph and 0-6 in Hays. Tony Hobson is 7-3 against the Griffons. He is 2-3 in St. Joseph and 5-0 in Hays.

The Series vs. the Lady Tigers:
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 42 times in women's basketball, with Fort Hays State leading by six games, 23-17, in the all-time series. Two of MWSU victories were vacated due to NCAA violations. The two teams did not play between 1993-94 and 2006-07, the season when Fort Hays State joined the MIAA. FHSU has won six of the last nine games. The Griffons are 12-7 at home and 4-16 on the road. The Griffons are 1-0 at home and 1-0 on the road in the vacated games. The Griffons are 1-0 on a neutral floor against Fort Hays State.

Struggles at the Free Throw Line
The Griffons have struggled at the free throw line as of lat shooting just 56-percent (93-166) on the season. This past weekend in it's two losses against #16 Drury and Missouri S&T they combined to make just 21-50 while their opponents made 58-of-82.

Balanced Attack
The Griffons have six players who average 6.0 points per game or more and have eight players who play 13 or minutes a game. Sharniece Lewis and Ariana Novak are averaging 10.7 points per game.

Rebounding Success
The Griffons have had success rebounding the ball this season averaging nearly 7.5 more rebounds per game than their opponents. They have five more offensive rebounds on the season. Tiara Hall and Quenisha Lockett lead the way with 7.7 and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Up Next
The Griffons return to action on Thursday, December 19 when they travel to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on the Northeastern State RiverHawks. Game time is set for 5:30 pm.