ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western State Women's Basketball got a 47-point performance from the bench on its way to a 90-63 victory against the Winona State Warriors on Friday night at Civic Arena.

The Griffons (1-0) had three players score in double figures, led by Mackenzie Hart, who had a game-high 22 points and four assists. Jayme Jackson tacked on 19 points and Tiani Ellison helped out with 15 points and seven rebounds off of the bench. This was each of their first times suiting up in an official MWSU game. 

Missouri Western did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 19 assists while turning the ball over eight times. Hart's four assists led the distribution list for the Griffons.

After falling behind 10-2, Missouri Western went on a 10-0 run with 4:24 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Ellison, to take a 12-10 lead. The Griffons then added four points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter-break with an 18-12 advantage. Missouri Western relied on its 3-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 18 points.

The Griffons maintained their lead in the game's second frame and entered halftime with a 36-31 edge. Missouri Western dominated inside the paint, scoring 10 of its 18 points close to the basket.

Following intermission, Missouri Western continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 46-38 before going on a 13-0 run, punctuated by a three from Hart to expand its lead further to 59-38 with 3:58 to go in the third. The Griffons held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 68-47 edge. Missouri Western knocked down eight 3-pointers in the quarter to score 24 of its 32 total points.

Missouri Western kept its lead intact before going on a 12-0 run, finished off by Johnni Gonzalez's jumper, to grow the lead to 90-61 with 1:28 to go in the contest. The Warriors narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Griffons still cruised the rest of the way for the 90-63 win. Missouri Western fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 22 points.

GAME NOTES

• Missouri Western found success from 3-point land, knocking down 17 treys in the game.
• The Griffons never trailed after taking an 18-12 first-quarter lead.
• Hart hit six threes and Jackson knocked down five more to lead a Missouri Western shooting attack that had two players sink five or more shots from beyond the arc.
• The Missouri Western bench came alive by adding 47 points to its scoring output.
• Hart and Ellison came off the bench to score 22 and 15 points, respectively.
• Missouri Western had a 51-33 edge on the boards in the win.
• Missouri Western turned the ball over eight times while dishing out 19 assists.
• Missouri Western cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
• Hart led the Griffons with a game-high 22 points.
• Missouri Western got a team-high eight rebounds from Alyssa Bonilla.
• With her 76th win at MWSU, Head Coach Candi Whitaker ties Griffon Hall of Famer Jeff Mittie for fifth all-time.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western headlines the Division II WBB Central Region Showcase once more with a showdown vs. Concordia-St. Paul (1-0) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Civic Arena. The Golden Bears defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 67-43 on Friday night.