BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Brionna Budgetts anchored a wide-ranging Missouri Western offense, scoring a game-high 14 points as the Griffons ran over Southwest Baptist 70-45 on Thursday. Budgetts was one of three MWSU players in double digits on the night - Corbyn Cunningham and Trinity Knapp each added 10 - as the Griffons moved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Southwest Baptist opened the scoring, converting after a traveling violation was whistled against Missouri Western, but the lead lasted all of eight seconds.

Budgetts answered with a three-pointer on the next possession, and after misses from both teams she knocked down a layup after a Cunningham steal. The Griffons pulled away slowly in the opening quarter, then cracked the game wide open in the second. Missouri Western shot 55.6 percent from the floor and picked up 12 points on the break while holding Southwest Baptist to 23.5 percent shooting and 10 points in the quarter to turn a 15-10 first quarter lead into a 37-20 halftime margin.

The Griffon defense was every bit as stifling in the third quarter, holding the Bearcats to just two field goal makes on 16.7 percent shooting as MWSU extended its lead to 55-30.

Turning to its bench with the game well in hand, Missouri Western cooled off slightly as Southwest Baptist found its range, but the Griffons easily held its 25-point margin through the final 10 minutes.

MWSU held a 13-8 edge in steals and added three blocks - two from Connie Clarke - in the rout. The Griffons return to the MWSU Fieldhouse on Monday, hosting Illinois-Springfield in a 5:30 p.m. tip. It's the final non-conference tuneup before jumping into the MIAA slate.