Game Notes | MWSU Season Stats | MIAA Standings
Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video

ST. JOSEPH, MO. – Missouri Western will welcome in Lincoln University for the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The 7th seeded Griffons and 10th seeded Blue Tigers will tip-off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night. Each team won one game in the regular season with both teams winning on their home floor.

THE GRIFFONS
The Griffons have won six of their last eight games including six straight wins at home. They defeated Southwest Baptist in the last regular season game 78-65.

Point guard Chelsea Dewey has been the Griffons most consistent weapon this season. She leads the team in games started, minutes played, assists and steals. The Griffons rely on three players on the glass including Miliakere Koyamainavure, Tiara Hall, and Mhykeah Baez all averaging over 4.5 rebounds per game.

Missouri Western averages 72.6 points per game and connects on 45 percent of their shoots to lead the MIAA. They also outrebound opponents, holding a +5.1 margin and average 37.6 per game.

THE BLUE TIGERS
Lincoln is coming off a loss at Missouri Southern by a score of 79-69. The Blue Tigers last road win came against Southwest Baptist on Feb. 14 winning in convincing fashion 61-48.

Hunter Yoakum is averaging 12.2 points per game followed by Kelsey Williams averaging 12.1 per game. Williams leads the Blue Tigers in assists and ranks second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game. LU's Kate Frazier is the third players averaging double-figures at 10.4. Lizzie Nessling averages 6.4 rebounds per game to lead the team.

The Blue Tigers are averaging 65 points per game and shoot 37 percent from the field. They have connected on 149 three-pointers, shooting 49 percent behind the arc.

MIAA'S BEST
Missouri Western finished the regular season with the best field goal percentage in the conference (45.1). Individually, LaQuinta Jefferson's 20.7 points per game were best in the league. Sarafina Handy finished the season with an MIAA-best 65 made three-pointers, six better than second best. 

FAMILIAR FACE
Now in her third season leading the Blue Tigers, Nicole Collier is no stranger to Missouri Western. Known to Griffon fans as Nicole Lindsey, she spent two years in a Griffon uniform and left her mark on the MWSU record books. Collier was a first team All-MIAA center in 2002-03 and sits ninth on the MWSU all-time scoring list. 

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
It's the third meeting between MWSU and Lincoln this season and the 33rd overall, but the first time the two teams have met in the MIAA postseason tournament. The two split the regular season series, with each team winning their home games. Missouri Western holds a 27-5 advantage in the all-time series and are 15-0 in St. Joseph against the Blue Tigers.

HOME SWEET HOME
It's no secret that playing on the road in the MIAA is a challenge, a fact the Griffons are well aware of. In the MWSU fieldhouse, the team went 11-3 overall and 7-3 in MIAA games and won their last six-straight. On the road, Missouri Western went 2-8 overall and 2-7 in league play. Their win at Lindenwood Jan. 31 broke a 21-game MIAA road losing streak for the Griffons. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Missouri Western's goal will be winning the game and getting to Kansas City. While the Griffons are 23-16 all-time in the MIAA tournment, it's been a little while since the team won a game in KC. Coach Edmisson won his first ever MIAA tournament game back in 2013 at Pittsburg State but the Griffons followed with a loss in KC to Central Missouri. It was the fifth straight Muncipal Auditorium loss for MWSU. Their last win came in 2007 against Northwest Missouri State, a win that was later vacated. 
Officially, Missouri Western hasn't won a game in the "Muni" since 2005. Should the team make it to the next round, they'd see Emporia State, a team they're 3-4 against in the MIAA tournament.