ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western women's basketball won its third consecutive game Tuesday as they defeated Newman, 71-54, inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.  The Griffons improve to 6-11 this season, while the Jets drop to 3-15.
 
It was a tale of two halves as MWSU struggled in the first half.  They shot just 28.6% (10-35) and went 4-of-14 from the three-point line.  Newman used a 13-2 run to end the first quarter to take a 20-11 lead.  The Griffons then scored 10 straight early in the second quarter to tied the game at 24, but Western went scoreless the final six minutes of the quarter and NU went on a 7-0 run to take a 31-24 lead into the locker room.
 
Missouri Western then dominated the second half as they outscored the Jets 31-13 in the third quarter, ending the quarter on a 24-5 run.  The Griffs never let the lead get under 11 the rest of the way as they forced Newman into 28 turnovers for the game.
 
MWSU made 16-of-28 shots after halftime, including 4-of-10 three's and 11-of-13 free throws.  They finished the game 41.3% (26-63), 33.3% (8-24) from behind the arc and 73.3% (11-15) from the line.  The Griffons also had a season high 19 assists on Tuesday.
 
Mychaell Gray led four Griffs in double figures with 14 points.  Mary Fultz and Asia McCoy added 12 each, while Brionna Budgetts scored 10.  Jordan Cunningham added a career-high seven assists and Camille Evans had five assists and a career-high five steals.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels to Topeka to play the Washburn Ichabods at 5:30 p.m. Thursday inside Lee Arena.  The game will air on the Griffon Sports Network (680 AM/95.3 FM) and the MIAA Network.