Jordan Cunningham 2023 Northwest Jan 7
Arianne Boma
Junior forward Cunningham powers through the paint for a layup on Jan. 7 vs. Northwest at Bearcat Arena.
55
Winner Missouri Western MW 13-4,7-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
37
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 7-7,2-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Missouri Western MW
13-4,7-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
55
Final
37
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU
7-7,2-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Missouri Western MW 7 18 26 4 55
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 10 3 12 12 37

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Riley Boyd

Historic defensive effort powers Griffon Women past Bearcats

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Missouri Western Women's Basketball took down Northwest Missouri State, 55-37, as the Griffons held the Bearcats to their lowest points total in the rivalry's 42-year history this Saturday at Bearcat Arena.

This win marks one of the best defensive performances of all time by the Griffons against MIAA opposition, with the only game where MWSU allowed fewer points against an MIAA team coming in 2014 when Nebraska-Kearney scored just 36 points. It's the 13th time the Griffons (13-4, 7-2 MIAA) have given up less than 40 points since the turn of the century. 

The first quarter was a rough one for the Griffons, only scoring seven points. The Bearcats (7-7, 2-7 MIAA) had the lead at the first break, 10-7. Missouri Western only shot 27.3% from the floor in the first quarter.

Quarter number two saw the Griffons wake up. A 14-1 run powered the Griffon surge, and Missouri Western won the quarter, 18-3. Head Coach Candi Whitaker's team took a 25-13 lead into the halftime break. 

The third period started the same way the second ended. An 11-4 run saw the Griffons extend their lead to 40-17, and Missouri Western won the quarter, 26-12. 

A quiet fourth quarter from the Griffon offense was no problem, as they only scored four points but held the Bearcats to just 12. Missouri Western closed the game out for the 55-37 win.

NOTABLES
  • The Griffons have won six games in a row.
  • This is the second time MWSU has held Northwest to just 37 points, last doing so on Feb. 4, 2015.
  • Junior guard Brionna Budgetts led all scorers with 15 points for the Griffons. This marks her sixth-straight double-digit performance
  • Fellow junior guard Connie Clarke finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, her eighth double-double of the year. 
  • Freshman forward Kassandra Caron and junior forward Jordan Cunningham both finished in double-digits as well, with the pair both scoring 10 points. This is a career-high for Caron.
  • Freshman guard  Cleao Murray made her return to the floor, playing her first minutes since taking on Emporia State on Dec. 17. 
  • This is Whitaker's 40th win against the MIAA during the regular season.
UP NEXT
The Griffons head to Wichita, Kansas, on Jan. 12 to face the Jets of Newman University (6-8, 3-6 MIAA. The Jets defeated Northeastern State, 66-61, on Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Fugate Gymnasium.
Print Friendly Version