ST. JOSEPH, MO. - The Griffons handled the Bearcats in the first meeting of the season winning 58-37. Missouri Western will travel to Maryville on Saturday afternoon and try to sweep the rival for the season.

THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western won in convincing fashion on Wednesday evening, beating Lincoln 77-49. MWSU has now won four of their last five games. The Griffons have also clinched a spot in the MIAA tournament and still hold the eighth spot in the MIAA to host a home game in the tournament.

The Griffons continue to lead the MIAA in shooting percentage at 45 percent and have a +7.2 scoring margin. As a team, MWSU is ranked high in several other categories including a +5.3 rebounding margin, 35 percent three-point shooting percentage and also average eight steals per game, sitting in the top half of the MIAA in all areas.

The Griffons LaQuinta Jefferson is the MIAA's leading scorer at 20.7 points per game and she has a field goal percentage of 51, ranking her fifth in the conference. Sarafina Handy is averaging 12.8 points per game and has made 61 three-pointers this season to lead the MIAA. Miliakere Koyamainavure, Mhykeah Baez, and Tiara Hall each average over four rebounds for the Griffons. Point guard Chelsea Dewey is the team leader in steals, assists and minutes played. 

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
The Bearcats are coming off a 73-67 loss to Lindenwood on Wednesday night and have now lost two straight games. 

Northwest puts up an average of 58.6 points per game but allows opponents to score 64.9 points per game. The Bearcats have a rebounding margin of +0.7 per game and average 36 per game. NWMSU has 10 players averaging over 10 minutes per game. The Bearcats have out blocked their opponents 97 to 71. Both Tember Schechinger and Shelby Mustain have tallied 23 on the year.

Senior Ariel Easton is in the top-five in the conference in scoring as she averages 16.0 points per game. Tember Schechinger is second on the team in points and rebounds, averaging 9.9 and 5.6 respectively. The Bearcat's Taylor Shull is the team leader in assist with 64 on the season. She also has accumulated 25 steals and averages 5.8 points per game.

LAST YEAR'S MEETINGS
MWSU 58, NWMSU 37 at St. Joseph, Mo. on 02/04/2015

MIAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets for the MIAA Basketball Championship, March 5-8, at Municipal 
Auditorium in Kansas City are on sale now in the Griffon Ticket Office. The all-session pass, which includes all 14 games in Kansas City, is $50, with single session tickets available for $20 for adults and youth/students $5. Men's quarterfinal action begins on Thursday 3/5 with women's quarterfinal action taking place on Friday 3/6.The semifinals and championship games take place over the weekend. Tickets are cheaper if purchased from our office in advance and we have an allotment we must sell. Brackets and game times will be determined at the end of the regular season.