ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western Women's Basketball hosts Saint Mary in a return to action after the holiday break on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the MWSU Fieldhouse
KEEPING UP WITH THE GRIFFONS
KFEQ Radio will broadcast the game live on the 680 AM and 95.3 FM, with the "Voice of the Griffons" Tommy Rezac on the call. Fans that want to watch the games can purchase a subscription to the MIAA network, where the games will be broadcast live. Admission can be purchased by clicking on the "Tickets" tab above. Catch exclusive interviews with Head Coach
Candi Whitaker during the pregame show.
DYNAMIC DUO
Connie Clarke and
Brionna Budgetts are on fire for the Griffons this season, with Clarke putting up 16.2 points per game and Budgetts adding 15.8. Clarke is also pulling down 9.6 rebounds per game, placing her in the top 50 Division II.
FLOURISHING FRESHMAN
Cleao Murray is third on the team in scoring, and she is quickly becoming a key part of the Griffons plans off the bench. Murray is shooting 31.6% from beyond the arc this season and has made the second most threes on the team.
SCOUTING SAINT MARY: DEC. 28 - 5:30 PM
The Spires (8-5, 4-4 KCAC) struggled to begin the season but have won four of their last five games. They have faced one other MIAA team this year: a 95-63 exhibition loss to Pittsburg State on Nov. 23 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Head Coach
Andy Kelley is 18-24 as the head coach of the Spires in his second season. Kelley was previously an assistant at Baker University, which is another KCAC institution.
Who to Watch
Jerrica Johnson leads USM in scoring, putting up 13.9 points per game to lead the Spires. She is also in the team's top five in rebounding. Johnson is one of four players to average nine or more points a game for USM, with the team putting up over 70 points per game.
Record Rabbit Hole
The Griffons have never lost to USM, holding a perfect 5-0 record vs. the Spires. The Griffons have scored 100 or more points against Saint Mary on two seperate occassions, including last season's matchup.
Last Time Out
The Griffons score the ball historically well when playing the Spires. A strong offensive performance from MWSU on Dec. 29, 2021, led to a program record 120 points from the Griffons, winning by a distinct margin, 120-49. Six Griffons scored in double-digits, as now Graduate Assistant Coach
Jaelyn Haggard scored a game-high 20 points.
Brionna Budgetts scored 16,
Mary Fultz scored 15 and
Connie Clarke and
Alyssa Bonilla both chipped in 12.
NOTABLES
- This is the first game back for the Griffons since playing on Dec. 19, in a thrilling win over Emporia State.
- Coach Candi Whitaker has been rotating her team as of late, with 10 players playing for 10 or more minutes per game this season.
- Clarke is just three assists away from eclipsing 100 as a Griffon.
ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON BASKETBALL: DEC. 28
Back in 2005, Missouri Western went to work on William Woods in a 102-61 Griffon win. Inga Buzoka led MWSU with a game-best 21 points, while Jill Johnson and Brandi Rodgers added 15 and 14 points, respectively.
