SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Even though Griffon Women's Basketball team held Texas A&M-Kingsville to just 20% from 3-point range in a 3-for-15 shooting performance, Missouri Western fell 62-48 to the Javelinas at Bill Greehey Arena on Saturday.

Camille Evans led the Griffons (4-1) with eight points and seven rebounds. Mary Fultz also added eight points off of the bench and Tiani Ellison helped out with eight points. This was MWSU's final game of the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic.

Led by Connie Clarke's three offensive rebounds, Missouri Western State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in five second chance points.

The Missouri Western defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Saturday's game, forcing 14 Kingsville turnovers while committing 12. Those takeaways turned into eight points on the offensive end of the floor. Mackenzie Hart led the way individually for the Griffons with two steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Missouri Western struggled out of the gate, falling behind 14-5 at the end of the first quarter.

Kingsville kept adding to that lead, building a 17-5 advantage before Western went on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Fultz, to narrow its deficit to 17-14. The Griffons continued to chip away, reducing the Kingsville lead to 23-21 heading into the break.

Western's deficit continued to grow after halftime, and the Griffons faced a 42-38 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. Missouri Western played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 17 points in the paint.

The Javelinas kept widening their lead in the fourth, constructing a 59-39 advantage before Western went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Evans' jumper, to shrink the deficit to 59-44 with 2:23 to go in the contest. The Griffons kept their comeback going, but Kingsville managed to hold on for the 62-48 win. The Griffons got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 10 of its 10 total points.

GAME NOTES

• The Missouri Western bench came alive by scoring 34 points to its scoring output.
• The Griffon defense forced 14 turnovers.
• Missouri Western cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
• Fultz and Ellison led the Griffons with eight points apiece.
• Missouri Western got a team-high eight rebounds from Clarke.

UP NEXT
The Griffons start MIAA play this Thursday vs. Pittsburg State (5-0) at 5:30 p.m. at home inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Gorillas defeated Henderson State 95-72 on Wednesday, Nov. 22, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.