ST. JOSEPH, Mo -- Corbyn Cunningham was just a rebound shy of a double-double on Friday night as she led Missouri Western to a 76-68 win over University of Sioux Falls. Jaelyn Haggard was also a potent force in the Griffon offense, with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range. The Griffons led wire-to-wire, surviving a late surge by the Cougars to move to 1-0 on the year.

Missouri Western slogged to a 20-10 lead through a first quarter that saw 12 fouls whistled, and extended to a 36-22 lead at the half.

Out of the break, USF started to find its shooting range, connecting on 10 of 19 shots in the quarter for a 52.6-percent pace after making just nine shots in the first half.

The Cougars narrowed the gap as close as four points, as Krystal Carlson drove for a layup with 1:45 left in the third to close within a 46-42 margin, but the Griffons responded immediately.

Connie Clarke found a wide-open Haggard for a triple to stretch the lead back to seven, then picked up a huge block on the opposite end and a defensive rebound after a second-chance miss. Cunningham tipped in her own shot in the paint to put MWSU back in front 51-42.

Clarke provided the spark again to start the fourth quarter, pestering the Cougars into a turnover and finding Haggard on the break to put Missouri Western up 55-44.

USF continued its hot shooting ways into the fourth quarter, eventually closing to a 67-64 deficit, but Alyssa Bonilla picked off the inbounds pass after a pair of Cunningham free throws with 49 seconds left, and cleared the ball out to Haggard who was immediately fouled. The grad transfer knocked down both freebies and MWSU was able to run out the clock eight-point winners.

Missouri Western controlled the offensive glass on the night, holding a 21-9 advantage (46-39 overall) and forced 26 turnovers by USF to just 15 by the Griffons.

MWSU closes out the opening weekend of the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic on Saturday, taking on Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.