MANKATO, Minn. - They've lived by the three, and on Tuesday night, the Missouri Western women died by the three.

The Griffons, shot just 16.7 percent (5-30) from behind-the-arc in a 65-54 loss at Minnesota State.  It was the season opener for the Mavericks (1-0).  Missouri Western (2-1) made a combined 24 three pointers in their first two games of the season, but couldn't replicate that number in their first road game of 2016-17.  The Mavericks limited Western to 31.7-percent shooting from the field.

Western did force 24 turnovers in defeat but also struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 53-percent (9-17) from the charity stripe.  Dwanisha Tate led three Griffons in double figures, finishing with 14 points on 4-16 shooting and 5 rebounds.  Chelsea Dewey and Sefulu Faavae added 11 points and 10 points respectively.  

The Griffons will next travel to Hawaii.  They will face Hawaii Pacific on Friday, November 18 at 9 p.m. central time.  They finish out the island trip on Saturday with an 11 p.m. tip-off against Brigham Young-Hawaii.