Missouri Western (13-8, 6-7 MIAA) vs. #6 Washburn (17-3, 11-1 MIAA)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
St. Joseph, Mo. - MWSU Fieldhouse - 5:30 pm
MWSU Game Notes I Listen Live I Live Stats  | Watch Live

The Missouri Western women's basketball team continues their tough stretch on Wednesday evening when they host the 9th ranked Washburn Lady Blues in the MWSU Fieldhouse. Game time is set for 5:30 pm.

Griffon Notes
• This marks the 37th season of Griffons women's basketball.
• The Griffons are under first year head coach Rob Edmisson who became the eighth head coach in Griffons history on March 29, 2012, he has led them to its best start since the 2004-2005 season when they started 15-6 through 21 games.
• The Griffons have had eight different starting line ups this season...the Griffons are 5-3 when starting, Griswold, Dever, Howard, Bell and Lawrence (started this five on Wednesday against PSU, Saturday against NSU and last Wednesday against WU) and 2-0 when starting Howard, J. Lewis, Dever, Bell and Lawrence. They are 3-1 starting  Abrams, Howard, Bell, Lawrence and J. Lewis. MWSU has went with Clouser, Dever, Howard, Bell and Lawrence. That line-up is 1-2 defeating Lindenwood 65-59 and falling 62-55 against ESU and UCM 74-71 in overtime. They used another different line-up against Lincoln on January 26 falling 73-66; they used Griswold, Howard, S. Lewis, Bell and Lawrence.
• The Griffons have had numerous close games this season, but have been able to come out on the winning end. The Griffons are 9-5 when the game is decided by less than 10 points and are 11-6 when they game is decided by 15 points are less. Four of the last five Griffon victories have been by six points or less with two being by two. (UCO 78-76 & NWMSU 68-66).
• The Griffons are 7-2 at home this season and 4-2 at home in MIAA play defeating Truman State, Northwest Missouri State, Lindenwood and Pittsburg State . They fell before Christmas break against Fort Hays State University and lost Saturday against Northeastern State.
• The Griffons have played pretty well away from the MWSU Fieldhouse going 6-5 in road games. The Griffons are just 2-5 in MIAA play defeating Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney. They fell to Missouri Southern 78-76 on January 5, 2013, Emporia State 62-55 on January 20, Central Missouri 74-71 in overtime on January 23, Lincoln 73-66 on January 26 and #9 Washburn 65-48 on February 6, 2013.
• The Griffons beat a Division I team for just the second time in history when they beat UMKC . The Griffons only victory against a Division I opponent was on November 21, 1997 when they defeated IUPU-Indianpolis, 70-49.
• The Griffons victory against #7 Metro State was their first over a top-25 team since January 26, 2011 when MWSU defeated 14th ranked Emporia State 78-71 in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons are 1-2 against ranked teams this season.
• The Griffons have struggled against Washburn as of late falling in 15 of the last 16 games and 11 of the last 12. Three of those losses were in the MIAA tournament.
• The Griffons were picked to finish 11th in the MIAA coaches preseason poll and 12th in the MIAA media preseason poll.

Coaches vs. Each Program - WU:
Edmisson is 0-1 against Washburn falling last week in Topeka. Ron McHenry is currently 24-10 against the Griffons since being at WU. McHenry is 9-4 in Lee Arena, 8-4 in St. Joseph and 7-2 on a neutral floor against Western.

The Series vs. Washburn:
Washburn and Western have met 83 times on the hardwood since their inaugural meeting during the 1975-76 season, a 74-70 Lady Blues victory. Since then, the Lady Blues have held the upper edge on MWSU, as they hold a 48-36 record through the 35 years. The Griffons are 24-18 in the MWSU Fieldhouse against the Lady Blues. The Lady Blue hold an 7-1 lead on a neutral floor, but in games that have gone into overtime, MWSU is 3-1. The Griffons are just 11-23 in Topeka. WU leads 7-5 in MIAA tournament games and MWSU leads 2-0 in NCAA Regional games. The Lady Blues have won 14 of the last 15 meetings, which includes the 11 of the last 12 games.

Offensive Stuggles:
The Griffons are just 1-4 in their last five games with three of those games being on the road. The Griffons have struggled shooting just 35.2-percent (118-335) during that stretch and only 24.8-percent (28-113) from long range. The griffons have also struggled from the free throw line making just 58.7-percent (54-92) from the line. They are averaging just 63.6 points per game and giving up 69.4 points pter game. The Griffons have dished out fewer assists (60-49) had fewer blocks (18-12) and have had more personal fouls (101-88). They Griffons have outrebounded their opponents 211-187 with 80 of their 211 coming on the offensive end of th floor. They have also forced 10 more turnovers (81-71) and had three more steals (37-34). The Griffons have struggled in the first half of those games getting outscored 163-143. During that stretch Heather Howard and Brittany Griswold have averaged 11.6 and 11.0 points per game respectively but the Griffons leading scorer has shot just 29.9-percent (23-77) from the field and 23.5-percent (8-34) from long range.

Up Next
The Griffons will have another week off before they travel to Maryville, Mo. for a rematch with rival Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday, February 20. Game time is set for 5:30 pm from Bearcat Arena.