KEARNEY, Neb. — Griffon Women's Basketball got an 18-point performance from the bench but fell 76-54 to the Nebraska Kearney Lopers on the road Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Jayme Jackson led the Griffons (5-3, 1-2 MIAA) with 15 points and six rebounds. Connie Clarke tacked on eight points, and Kassandra Caron helped out with six points from the bench.

The Missouri Western State offense knocked eight threes on 31 attempts. Jackson hit three treys for the Griffons in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 2-0, Missouri Western went on a 6-0 run with 8:07 left in the first quarter to take a 6-2 lead. The Griffons then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 13-9.

The Griffons kept the Lopers (8-1, 2-1 MIAA) from increasing their lead before going on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three from Johnni Gonzalez, to take a 17-15 lead. The Lopers then came roaring back to take a 28-24 lead heading into halftime.

Kearney continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 38-27 advantage before MWSU went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Clarke, to trim its deficit to 38-32 with 7:11 to go in the third. Kearney countered and stretched its lead to 56-39 heading into the fourth. Western knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 15 total points.

The Griffons could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 76-54.

GAME NOTES

• The Griffons knocked down eight treys in the game.
• Jackson led the Griffons with 15 points.
• Western got a team-high six rebounds from Jackson. It's a new season-high.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western next meets No. 18-ranked Fort Hays State (7-0, 3-0 MIAA) on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas. The Tigers took down previously undefeated Northwest Missouri State 62-48 on Thursday night in Hays.