EMPORIA, Kan. – The No. 10 Griffons held on to earn their biggest victory of the season as they beat No. 9 Emporia State by a score of 73-64. It was the Griffons' first win in Emporia since 2004 and the first time beating a top-10 team since the 2010-11 season.

The Lady Hornets built a five-point advantage in the first quarter but the Griffons closed the gap and eventually grabbed the lead midway through the second quarter on a Sarafina Handy three-point field goal. The Griffons never surrendered the lead after the 5:42 mark of the second quarter.

Missouri Western continued its strong play into the second half and took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter.  Emporia State cut the lead to two points early in the fourth quarter and kept it close until the Griffons went on an 8-2 run with just under three minutes to go. The run featured six points by LaQuinta Jefferson and a bucket by freshman Melia Richardson.

The Griffons were once again led by LaQuinta Jefferson as she scored 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. Sarafina Handy and Miliakere Koyamainavure scored 16 and 12, respectively. Handy tallied 11 rebounds for the Griffons and Jefferson recorded eight rebounds.

Missouri Western shot 50 percent from the field and scored 50 points in the paint compared to the Lady Hornets 41 percent shooting and 36 points in the paint. The Griffons also had 16 points from their bench.

The schedule for the Griffons doesn't get any easier as they take on No. 3 Fort Hays State on Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m.