GAME PREVIEW
Missouri Western (15-0, 9-0 MIAA) at Washburn (10-5, 6-3 MIAA)
Wednesday, Jan. 13 – 5:30 p.m. | Lee Arena | Topeka, Kansas
 
LINKS
Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
MWSU Season Stats | MIAA Standings | WBCA Top-25 (Jan. 12)
 
ST. JOSEPH – No. 10 Missouri Western puts its 15-game win streak on the line this Wednesday at Washburn in a matchup between the MIAA's top scoring team (Missouri Western) and its second stingiest defense (Washburn).
 
If the Griffons are to improve on their record breaking start, they'll have to hand Washburn its first home loss of the season. Currently first in the MIAA standings, Missouri Western begins a tough stretch that includes trips to the third (Emporia State) and fourth (Washburn) place teams this week. Emporia State this Saturday will be the first of two top-10 matchups for the Griffons in the next three games.
 
MISSOURI WESTERN

• Missouri Western's  15-game win streak to open the season is officially the team's best ever start (2006-07 team started 21-0 but all wins were later vacated by NCAA)
• The 9-0 MIAA record is the team's best league start since beginning 10-0 in 1994-95
• Lead the MIAA in: assists (16.1/game), field goal % (50.3), free throw attempts (359), free throws made (274), scoring margin (+26), scoring offense (87.9 ppg), steals (12.8/game), 3-pt field goal defense (26.9 %), 3-pt field goal percentage (38.5 %) and turnovers forced (23.4/game)
• Rank top-10 nationally in field goal percentage (2^nd), free throws made (5^th), scoring margin (3^rd), scoring offense (3^rd), steals (6^th) and turnover margin (6^th), turnovers forced (10^th)
• LaQuinta Jefferson leads MIAA in field goal percentage (58.8) and scoring (23.6); she ranks 6^th nationally in field goal percentage and 3^rd nationally in scoring
• Jefferson is 2^nd in MIAA in free throws made (63) and Sarafina Handy's 86.8 free throw percentage is second in the MIAA
• Miliakere Koyamainavure (29-3^rd), Sefulu Faavae (28-5^th) and Sarafina Handy (26-8^th) are among the MIAA leaders in steals
• Koyamainavure's 2.23 steals per game rank 1^st in the MIAA
• Handy is 2^nd in MIAA, shooting 40% from three-point range

 
WASHBURN

• Washburn has won four of its last five games, but lost the last time out (61-51 at Central Oklahoma)
• Teams have played nearly identical schedules (Washburn has not played Central Missouri or Northwest Missouri; Missouri Western has not played Fort Hays or Nebraska-Kearney)
• Common opponents that Washburn lost to include Pittsburg State (66-58) and Central Oklahoma
• Washburn leads the MIAA in defensive rebounds per game (30) and field goal percentage defense (34.5%)
• Team is scoring 64.1 ppg and allowing the second fewest in the MIAA (57.8)
• Jayna Smith leads the MIAA with 7 defensive rebounds per game and 10.3 total per game
• Alyxis Bowens leads team, scoring 11.2 points per game; only player in double-figures
• Three other Ichabods average at least nine points per game