The Missouri Western women's basketball team goes after its second consecutive win Saturday as they host Pittsburg State (12-6) at 1:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons stopped a three-game skid with a 78-54 win against Missouri Southern on Thursday to improve to 4-11.
Western used a 17-3 run to end the first half against the Lions and they never allowed Southern to get the lead under 13 points in the second half.
Brionna Budgetts scored a career-high 14 points, as
Logan Hughes also had 14 and
Mary Fultz added 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds. MWSU had its second-best shooting night of the season as they finished 49.1% (28-57) from the field and they outrebounded the Lions 42-31.
This will be the second meeting between Missouri Western and Pittsburg State as the Gorillas won the first game in Pittsburg, 96-75, on December 17. The Griffs had their fourth best scoring night of the season, but PSU made 11 three-point FGs and outscored Western from the foul line 23-8.
Camille Evans led four Griffons in double figures that night with 15, while
Brionna Budgetts (12),
Josie Weishaar (10) and
Jordan Cunningham (10) also got to double digits.
The Gorillas are 12-6 after a 79-50 victory at Northwest Missouri State on Thursday. They're led by two All-MIAA guards in Kaylee DaMitz and Tristan Gegg. DaMitz is averaging 16.2 P, 3.7 R and 5.5 A and Gegg is averaging 17.3 P, 4.2 R and 1.9 A per game. Pitt ranks third in the MIAA in scoring (72.4), fourth in FG% (43.1), fourth in 3PFG% (33.9) and first in FT% (80.8).
Pitt State leads the all-time series 51-32, but Missouri Western is 21-19 in games play in St. Joseph. The Gorillas have dominated the series of late as they've won nine straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings.
RESCHEDULED GAMES
Missouri Western had to postpone three games last month after pausing all team activities. They made up their game from January with Fort Hays State on Monday. The Newman game from Thursday, January 21 has been rescheduled for Monday, February 15 at 5:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. And the Griffons home game with Central Oklahoma from Saturday, January 23, will now be played February 24 in St. Joseph.
ON THE GLASS
MWSU is first in the MIAA in offensive rebounds (13.2) this season after getting 22 on Monday at Fort Hays State and 11 more against Southern on Thursday. They are third in the league in rebounds per game (39.0) and sixth in rebounding margin (+1.0). MWSU has had at least 38 rebounds in ten games and they've added 11 or more offensive rebounds in ten games this season.
DEFENDING THE 3
The Griffons are now third in the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage defense (27.8%) after holding MSSU to 3-of-18 from behind the arc. Only three opponents have shot better than 40% from three this season. Western has held ten teams to under 40% shooting overall and they've held ten opponents to 67 points or less this season.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Missouri Western has forced 19 or more turnovers five times this season and 14 or more in ten games. They rank third in the MIAA in turnovers forced per game (15.9).
\YOUTH MOVEMENT
Missouri Western is relying on many young players this season after graduating six seniors and losing all five starters off their 21-8 team last season. The Griffons have nine first-year players and just six that played in a Griffon uniform prior to this season.
MINUTES PLAYED PER CLASS
Freshman - 1264 (42.1% of teams total minutes)
Sophomore - 594 (19.8%)
Junior - 357 (11.9%)
Senior - 785 (26.2%)
MINUTES PLAYED PER YEAR OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM
1st Year – 1823 (60.8% of teams total min. played)
2nd Year – 1097 (36.6%)
3rd Year – 80 (2.7%)
POINTS SCORED PER CLASS
Freshman - 354 (39.5% of teams total points)
Sophomore - 238 (26.5%)
Junior - 110 (12.3%)
Senior - 195 (21.7%)
POINTS SCORED PER YEAR OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM
1st Year – 554 (61.8% of teams total points scored)
2nd Year – 318 (35.5%)
3rd Year – 25 (2.8%)
