ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Women's Basketball is back for another season eight months after its run in the big dance saw Missouri Western make it into the Elite Eight for the first time since 1995.

Head Coach Candi Whitaker's group of Griffons are primed and ready to take the floor, with the first official game of the season coming on Saturday. The Griffons face off against reigning NSIC Champion Minnesota Duluth at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the D2CCA Women's Basketball Tip-Off Classic

Whitaker is ready for the season to officially get started and feels good about the core group of Griffons who return to the black and gold once again.

"I really am proud of all of our returners," Whitaker said. "I thought they all got better in the offseason and put in the work they needed to improve their individual games."

Missouri Western has a good mix of upperclassman leadership and new faces. Not all of the new faces are freshmen however, as the Griffons welcomed division one transfer Johnni Gonzalez to the squad from UC Santa Barbara. Gonzalez got significant minutes for the Gauchos last season, and Whitaker feels that she will be a good piece for the fluid Griffon backcourt.

"Johnni is very, very good in the open floor, making decisions setting other people up," Whitaker said. "(She) works hard understand to the game. A great addition to our team."

Key personnel such as Connie Clarke, Brionna Budgetts and Camille Evans are back as well, as Clark climbed the leaderboards and backboards everywhere for the third-most rebounds in a single season with 288 boards. Clark also led the team with 12.3 points per game, while Budgetts averaged 12.2 

When it comes to getting the new group up to speed, Whitaker points to her returning group as a key to getting the squad ready. 

"It's been really nice that we've had so many returners," Whitaker said. "It's the first time since I've been here where we've had a bulk of our team be with us for a year or two already. There's so much continuity and an understanding. They know me, and there's less time trying to figure things out."
 

RACE TO CIVIC ARENA STARTS NOW
Last season saw the deepest run in the NCAA tournament since 1995 for Griffon Women's Basketball. Jaelyn Haggard, recently named graduate assistant for MWSU, hit a deep three-pointer to give the Griffons the lead with just under 1:20 to go in the game, and Budgetts hit a go-ahead baseline jumper with eight seconds remaining to send the Griffons to Birmingham, Alabama.
 

This season, winning the NCAA Central Regional would result in a much shorter trip for the Griffons. The Elite Eight and Final Four will be at Civic Arena in St. Joseph for 2023 and 2024. Whitaker says the tournament coming to St. Joseph isn't any added pressure for a return to the biggest stage in Division II hoops.

"That obviously is the goal," Whitaker said. "It's going to be the goal regardless of our previous year, regardless of where it's located. It is really cool that it's here in St. Joe. It would be a really cool opportunity if we were able to make it and get to compete in that tournament. But, obviously, a lot has to happen. "
 

STOUT COMPETITION ON OPENING WEEKEND
The Griffons will face a tough start to the season, with Minnesota Duluth joining No. 23 Lubbock Christian as the first official Griffon opponents of the season. A road trip to South Dakota then awaits the Griffons, as MWSU heads to University of Sioux Falls and Augustana before finally taking the floor at MWSU Fieldhouse for the first home game of the season against Truman State.

"We do have very, very tough competition for our first five games of the season," Whitaker said. "We'll be battle tested right away. Nothing's going to be easy. Every possession will matter."

The first game of the season sees the Griffons play one of the best teams in division two, according to Whitaker. Minnesota Duluth also made the Central Regional, losing to Nebraska-Kearney 77-70 in the opening round. With Brooke Olson earning Preseason Player of Year honors, Whitaker knows her Griffons have their work cut out for them.

 Probably one of the best players in the country and a tough matchup," Whitaker said. "She can play inside and out. She puts a clinic on in the post. They're well coached. They run their system really well."

After Minnesota Duluth, the Griffons take on No. 23 Lubbock Christian. Even though the Chaps graduated some of their top talent, Whitaker say the drop off shouldn't be an issue for them. 

"Coach Steve Gomez does a good job," Whitaker said. "It's going to be a system where they run their stuff and they don't make mistakes, and they make open shots. And I think that's always been their recipe for success."

MIAA COACHES PICK GRIFFONS FOURTH
There will be fierce competition in the MIAA this season, with the top four teams all receiving first place votes in the MIAA Coaches Poll. Only 20 points separate the Griffons from top-picked Missouri Southern. Meanwhile, the first WBCA Coaches Poll has the Griffons receiving 22 votes.
 

Whitaker says the preseason rankings don't mean anything to her team after being picked to finish eighth in the MIAA last season.

"We obviously thought that we were much better than that," Whitaker said. "Clearly our league did not. And then we proved that we were better than that."