ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Five Griffons scored in double digits as Missouri Western State Women's Basketball knocked off Saint Mary 103-65 at home Monday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
The No. 25-ranked Griffons (3-0) had five players score in double figures, led by Connie Clarke, who had 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Mackenzie Hart added 13 points and three steals off of the bench and Kassandra Caron chipped in as well with 11 points off the bench.
LaJahda Boyland pulled down two offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Missouri Western, grabbing 11 boards and turning them into 15 second-chance points.
After jumping out to a 19-17 advantage, Missouri Western went on a 5-0 run with 1:20 left in the first quarter to increase its lead to 24-17. The Griffons then lost some of that lead but still entered the quarter break with a 24-22 advantage. Missouri Western capitalized on seven turnovers in the period, turning them into six points on the other end of the floor.
Missouri Western kept its first-quarter lead intact before going on a 9-0 run starting at the 8:45 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Clarke, to increase its lead to 33-22. The Spires cut into that lead, but the Griffons still enjoyed a 39-36 advantage heading into halftime. Missouri Western dominated in the paint, scoring 10 of its 15 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, Missouri Western continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 52-44 before going on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Camille Evans, to expand its lead further to 61-44 with 3:20 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Griffons added eight points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 73-48 edge. Missouri Western played well near the basket, scoring 18 of its 34 points in the paint.
Missouri Western kept widening that lead, expanding it to 91-62 before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Evans' layup, to grow the lead to 100-62 with 48 seconds to go in the contest. The Griffons held onto that lead for the rest of the game for the 103-65 win. Missouri Western took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 16 of its 30 points in the paint.
Western forced 30 turnovers while committing just nine themselves in Monday's game. The Griffons turned those takeaways into 40 points on the offensive end of the floor. Brionna Budgetts led the way individually with three steals.
GAME NOTES
- With 103 points, it's the eighth-most points in program history.
- Missouri Western lit it up from beyond the arc, knocking down eight treys in the game.
- The Griffons never trailed after taking a 24-22 first-quarter lead.
- Missouri Western recorded 24 total assists in the game.
- The Missouri Western bench came alive by adding 58 points to its scoring output.
- Five Missouri Western players scored 10 or more points.
- Hart and Caron came off the bench to score 13 and 11 points, respectively.
- Boyland had a career-high 11 points.
- Mary Fultz chipped in 10 points.
- The Griffons turned 30 turnovers into 40 points on the offensive end.
- The Missouri Western defense forced 30 turnovers.
- Missouri Western turned the ball over nine times while dishing out 24 assists.
- Missouri Western cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
- Clarke led the Griffons with a game-high 21 points.
- Missouri Western got a game-high nine rebounds from Clarke.
UP NEXT
The Griffons head down south this weekend for a non-conference matchup with St. Mary's (0-2) on Friday at 6 p.m. in the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic in San Antonio, Texas, inside Bill Greehey Arena. The Rattlers lost to Regis 69-62 last time out on Nov. 11 in Golden, Colorado.
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