JOPLIN, Mo. – A 22-7 opening run by Missouri Southern (7-7, 4-2) dug a hole too deep to climb out of for the Missouri Western women's basketball team (10-5, 3-3) on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Griffons trailed 30-14 after the first quarter, but climbed back into the game with a 9-0 run to start the second quarter.  The run wasn't enough with Missouri Southern again stretching the lead to double digits and handing the Griffons their third straight MIAA loss, 76-64.
 
NOTABLES

• Missouri Western cut the Southern lead to seven with six minutes left in the first half, but back-to-back Jenson Maydew three pointers stretched the lead back to 13.
• MWSU got back within nine early in the third quarter before Missouri Southern went on a 9-2 run
• Southern's Maydew went 7-of-9 from three point range and scored 23 points
• The two teams combined for 28 first half personal fouls. Missouri Western had two players with three fouls at the break. Three Griffons ended the game with four fouls and KeShara Scott fouled out
• The win was Missouri Southern's sixth-straight after starting the season 1-7
• Brittany Atkins led Missouri Western with 17 points
• Melia Richardson was the only other Griffon in double-figures. Richardson has scored at least 13 points in four of the last five games

 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western returns home for two games next week, hosting Southwest Baptist (8-6, 0-5) on Thursday, Jan. 11.