ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Breaking the MIAA single-game scoring record, Griffon Women's Basketball kept Kansas Christian to only 11.1% shooting from the field, defeating the Falcons 147-16 on Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western State broke nine program records and seven MIAA records in its non-conference matchup with KCC (0-12).

PROGRAM RECORDS: 9

• Points scored: 147
• Points in a quarter: 42
• Points in a half: 81
• Points allowed: 16
• Threes made: 20
• Assists: 45
• Margin of victory: 131 points
• Field goals made: 60
• Field goals attempted: 102

MIAA WBB RECORDS: 7

• Points scored: 147
• Points in the first quarter: 42
• Points in a half: 81
• Points allowed: 16
• Assists: 45
• Margin of victory: 131 points
• Field goals made: 60

The Griffons (9-3. 4-2 MIAA) had seven players score in double figures, led by Kassandra Caron, who notched her first career double-double with career-highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds. Meredith Rieker tacked on a career-high 22 points from the bench, and Kelsey Johnson helped out with a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds from the bench.

The Missouri Western offense was very productive from deep, making a program record 20 threes on 42 attempts. Johnson was the most prolific shooter for the Griffons, draining a career-high five treys in the contest.

The Griffon defense caused its share of mistakes in Saturday's game, forcing 45 turnovers while committing just six. Those takeaways turned into 78 points on the other end of the floor. Alyssa Bonilla's seven steals led the way individually for the Griffons.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Western started out the scoring by going on a 42-0 run, culminating in a three from Rieker, to take an early lead with 32 seconds left in the first quarter, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. The Griffs relied on their 3-point shooting in the period, knocking down six shots to account for 18 of its 42 points.

The Griffons built that first-quarter lead to 49-5 before going on a 29-0 run starting at the 6:26 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Jordan Cunningham, to increase its lead to 78-5. Western proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed an 81-7 advantage heading into halftime. Western also dominated in the paint, scoring 28 of its 39 points close to the basket.

Following intermission, Western continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 98-10 before going on a 16-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Rieker, to expand its lead further to 114-10 with 1:16 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Griffons added three points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 118-11 edge. Western knocked down seven 3-pointers in the quarter to score 21 of its 37 total points.

The Griffons kept widening that lead, expanding it to 120-12 before going on a 12-0 run, finished off by Rieker's layup, to grow the lead to 132-12 with 5:48 to go in the contest. The Griffons kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 147-16 win. Western fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 29 points.

GAME NOTES

• This is Western's second four-game winning streak this season.
• Caron notched an impressive double-double for the Griffons with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
• All 13 active Griffons scored in the game.
• The Griffons shot well from 3-point range, knocking down 20 of 42 long-range attempts.
• Western put together a stellar defensive performance, holding the Falcons to only 11.1% shooting from the field.
• The Griffons never trailed after taking a 42-0 first-quarter lead.
• Western put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 75% of made baskets.
• Western had a great day defensively, holding KCC to 8% from beyond the arc on 13 attempts.
• The Western bench came alive by adding 86 points to its scoring output.
• Seven MWSU players scored 10 or more points.
• Rieker and Johnson came off the bench to score 22 and 18 points, respectively.
• Western turned 45 turnovers into 78 points on the offensive end.
• The Griffons forced 45 turnovers while committing only six on the other end.
• Bonilla swiped a career-high seven steals for the Griffons in the game. It's the third-most steals in MWSU WBB history. 
• Western had a 58-20 edge on the boards in the win. The 58 boards are the third-most in program history in a single game.
• The Griffon defense forced 45 turnovers. Their 30 steals are the second-most in program history.
• Western turned the ball over a season-low six times while dishing out a program and MIAA record 45 assists.
• The Griffons cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 30 offensive boards in the game.
• Caron had a game-high 23 points, and Rieker added 22.
• Western got a game-high 12 rebounds from Caron.

UP NEXT
Western returns to conference play next Thursday and takes on Rogers State (6-5, 1-4 MIAA) at 5:30 p.m. in at the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Oklahoma. The Hillcats have won two in a row, last beating Randall 81-41 on Saturday in Claremore.

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