EMPORIA, Ks. - On the heels of their first two-game slide of the season, the Missouri Western women broke through in a big way with an 81-67 win at Emporia State Tuesday night.

The game told the proverbial story of two halves. The Griffons (19-5, 13-5 MIAA) shot 34% in the first half, then used a 67% clip in the second half to pull away and keep the Hornets (12-12, 7-11 MIAA) at bay.  Connie Clarke led Western with 20 points (9-14 FG), 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Corbyn Cunningham added 14 points and 10 boards. Freshman Abby Bala played 22 minutes and scored 13 points, going 3-5 from long distance. Jordan Cunningham chipped in 10 points for the Griffons.

The Griffons now sit all alone in fourth place in the loaded MIAA and  remain two games out first place.  They will try for win #20 on the season when they return home Thursday, February 17th to face Washburn in the annual "Pink Out" game.  Tip time is set for 5:30pm.  Western concludes its home portion of the season on Saturday when they face off against Emporia again.  


MIAA Women's Basketball Standings as of Tuesday, Feb. 15:
 

2021-2022 Women's Basketball Standings

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
Fort Hays State	15-3	0.833	21-3	0.875	W2
Missouri Southern	15-3	0.833	18-5	0.783	W11
Nebraska Kearney	14-4	0.778	19-5	0.792	W3
Missouri Western	13-5	0.722	19-5	0.792	W1
Central Missouri	12-6	0.667	16-9	0.640	L1
Washburn	10-7	0.588	12-11	0.522	W2
Northwest Missouri	10-8	0.556	15-9	0.625	L2
Pittsburg State	10-8	0.556	15-9	0.625	W2
Central Oklahoma	10-8	0.556	14-10	0.583	W1
Emporia State	7-11	0.389	12-12	0.500	L1
Rogers State	6-13	0.316	10-15	0.400	L2
Northeastern State	3-15	0.167	5-19	0.208	L2
Lincoln	1-17	0.056	5-19	0.208	L9
Newman	0-18	0.000	2-22	0.083	L18

If necessary, the MIAA will apply its Weighted Index Formula to adjust the women's basketball standings in the final weeks leading up to the 2022 MIAA Basketball Tournament.