WICHITA, Kan. — Griffon Women's Basketball jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back, taking down Newman, 74-52, on Thursday night at Fugate Gymnasium.
The Griffons (14-4, 7-2 MIAA) were led to their seventh-straight win by
Brionna Budgetts' 23 points.
Cleao Murray scored 13 points off the bench and
Connie Clarke added six points and nine rebounds in the win. Ten different Griffons scored.
Quarter one set the tone for the game.
Johnni Gonzalez buried a step-back 3-pointer to open the scoring before Budgetts scored four quick points to extend the lead to 7-0 within the first three minutes of the game. Newman hit a three to make it 7-3, but that is as close as the Jets got. The Griffons closed the quarter on a 12-3 run and led, 18-7, at the first break.
Missouri Western methodically extended its lead into the second quarter, fueled by nine points in the period by Murray.
Jordan Cunningham hit a triple with nine seconds left in the half, and the Griffons went into the locker room up, 40-19.
The third quarter saw Missouri Western continue to push the lead out. The Griffons led by as many as 25 at one point in the quarter but finished up by 23 at 55-32. Budgetts scored seven points in the quarter to lead MWSU.
Quarter number four saw the Griffs continue to score the ball well. The Griffons scored 21 points in the quarter, but Newman kept pace with Missouri Western, putting up 20 in the fourth. Newman shot 5-of-7 from three in the quarter.
NOTABLES
- The win marks the fifth team in a row the Griffons have beaten by 15 or more points. They've beaten their last six MIAA foes by 12 points or more.
- Murray scored in double-figures for the first time since scoring 17 vs. Fort Hays State on Dec. 10.
- Budgetts continues to dominate the MIAA, scoring 20+ points for the sixth time this season and 14+ points for the seventh game in a row.
NEXT UP
The Griffons head south to take on the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (6-9, 3-8 MIAA). Central Oklahoma fell to Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night at home, 72-68.
