WEEKEND PREVIEW
Friday, Nov. 18, 9 p.m. – Missouri Western (2-1) vs. Hawaii Pacific (0-0) Live Stats | Live Audio
Saturday, Nov. 19, 11 p.m. – Missouri Western vs. BYU-Hawaii (0-1) Live Stats | Live Video
 
ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women's basketball team has traded in the blustery conditions in St. Joseph for the sunshine of the Aloha State. The Griffons are set to play two games this weekend in Hawaii, beginning Friday night.
 
Missouri Western will open with a game against Hawaii Pacific at 9 p.m. CST. Then on Saturday, the Griffons take on hots BYU-Hawaii at 11 p.m. CST. Both games will be played in Laie, Hawaii.
 
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western enters the weekend 2-1 after a loss at Minnesota State on Tuesday night. The Griffons have held opponents to a 57.3 point average through three games, but are scoring just 72.3 themselves, well below the team's 2015-16 average. As a team, Missouri Western is shooting 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. The Griffons have had some struggles at the free throw line, shooting just 67 percent and averaging only nine made free throws per contest. A signature of Rob Edmisson-led teams, Missouri Western is forcing 23.3 turnovers per game and picking up more than 11 steals per contest.
 
Dwanisha Tate's 15.3 points per game lead the team. Chelsea Dewey has averaged 10.3 per contest along with a team-high 5.3 assists per game. Julia Torres is averaging a team high 8.3 rebounds per game.
 
HAWAII PACIFIC
The Sharks return all five starters and 10 letter winners from last year's 17-11 team. Hawaii Pacific was picked to finish fourth in the PacWest. Breanna Mackenzie was a preseason All-PacWest selection after leading the team last year with 17.7 points per game along with 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
 
BYU-HAWAII
The Seasiders return just five total players and only one starter from a team that went 11-4 last season. BYU-Hawaii averaged just 67.6 points per game last season, shooting 38 percent from the field. Mata Tonga is the lone returning starter for the team. She averaged 3.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game a season ago.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Missouri Western will host another four-team classic next weekend as Northwest Missouri, Missouri S& T and William Jewell visit for the Holiday Inn Express/Candlewood Suites Classic. The Griffons open play Nov. 25 against Missouri S&T with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Northwest Missouri will play William Jewell at 5:30 p.m. on the 25^th. The Griffons take on William Jewell on Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. after Northwest and Missouri S&T at 3 p.m.