KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western (14-15) put together one of its best defensive performances of the season in the first round of the MIAA Championships, holding Nebraska-Kearney (15-14) to just 47 points in an eight-point victory on Wednesday.
 
NOTABLES

• After Nebraska-Kearney jumped out to an early 4-2 lead, the Griffons rolled to a 14-0 run and held a 16-6 lead going into the second quarter.
• Missouri Western continued its aggressive defensive play in the second, holding the Lopers to just 10 points in the quarter.
• The Griffons allowed just 16 points in the first half, as the Lopers were held to 25 percent shooting.
• Melia Richardson paced the Missouri Western offense in the first half with 10 points.
• After Nebraska-Kearney pulled within seven with under three minutes left in the final quarter, Katrina Roenfeldt drilled a three-pointer to extend the Missouri Western lead back to double-digits.
• Nebraska-Kearney's Elisa Backes made a three-pointer of her own with just 21 seconds remaining, cutting the Griffon lead to just four at 51-47.
• Missouri Western made all of its final six free-throw attempts to earn the 55-47 first-round win.
• The 47 points allowed by the Griffons is the team's second-best mark of the season.
• Nebraska-Kearney had a significant rebounding advantage on Wednesday, outrebounding the Griffons 46-29.
• Missouri Western forced 18 Nebraska-Kearney turnovers, while the Griffons finished with only 8.
• The Griffons' 30 points scored off turnovers accounted for over half of their offense.

 
LEADERS

• Richardson led all scorers with 15 points. The MIAA All-Defensive Team selection also recorded a career-high six steals in the win and played all 40 minutes.
• Brittany Atkins led the Griffons with eight rebounds while also scoring 12 points.
• Roenfeldt added 11 points, five boards, and four steals.

 
UP NEXT

• Missouri Western will take on top-seeded Fort Hays State (27-1) in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
• The Tigers topped the Griffons 67-50 in the teams' only meeting this season.