ST. JOSEPH – The Griffon women's basketball team couldn't close the final gap Thursday night in a 63-55 loss to Lindenwood.
 
Missouri Western (10-11, 3-9) cut the Lindenwood (11-11, 3-10) lead to two with 2:48 to play, but couldn't find a way to capture its first lead of the game. The Griffons were within a single possession for much of the second half after a 25-11 run through the end of the second quarter and much of the third quarter got the Griffons within one. Lindenwood made a 7-0 run -- all on free throws -- to pull away after MWSU had cut the lead to two. Lindenwood reached its largest lead of the game, 31-16 with 2:37 left in the first half before a 9-0 run by the Griffons sparked the 25-11 spurt.
 
NOTABLES

• Cera Ledbetter recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds
• Melia Richardson led Missouri Western with 18 points
• The Griffons shot 38 percent (18-47) with Lindenwood shooting 41 percent (18-44)
• Missouri Western shot 69.6 percent at the free throw line and were outscored by seven at the line
• Nine Griffons played in the game, the most since Jan. 15
• Lindenwood became the first team to eclipse 60 points against the Griffons since Southwest Baptist on Jan. 15

 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Lincoln (3-18, 0-13) on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.