HAYS, Kan. — Unbeaten no more.

Griffon Women's Basketball went into the half trailing Fort Hays State 31-24 but rallied from the deficit to beat the No. 18-ranked Tigers 61-58 on the road Saturday afternoon at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

The Griffons (6-3, 2-2 MIAA) had four players score in double figures, led by Connie Clarke, who had 18 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Johnni Gonzalez tacked on 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals, and Brionna Budgetts helped out with 10 points.

The Missouri Western State offense was very productive from beyond the arc, making nine threes on 21 attempts. Budgetts was the most prolific shooter for the Griffons, draining two treys in the contest.

Missouri Western's defense held Fort Hays (7-1, 3-1 MIAA) to only 18.8% shooting from beyond the arc and 33.9 percent from the field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 8-2, MWSU went on a 7-0 run with 5:28 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from MacKenzie Hart, to take a 9-8 lead. The Griffons then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 17-15.

Fort Hays kept adding to that lead, building a 26-15 advantage before Western went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three from Mary Fultz, to narrow its deficit to 26-20. Hays responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Griffons trailing 31-24 heading into halftime.

Following halftime, MWSU  kept the Tigers from growing their lead before going on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Jayme Jackson, to grab a 34-33 lead with 6:21 to go in the third. The Griffons held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 44-43 edge. Western played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 20 points in the paint.

Western kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Budgetts' three, to grow the lead to 58-51 with 2:42 to go in the contest. The Tigers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Griffons still held on for the 61-58 win. The Griffons fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 17 points.

GAME NOTES

• The Griffons shot well from 3-point range, knocking down nine of 21 long-range attempts.
• The Griffons held the Tigers to only 33.9% shooting from the field.
• Western had a stellar day defensively, holding Fort Hays to 19% from beyond the arc on 16 attempts.
• The Missouri Western defense forced 14 turnovers.
• Clarke led the Griffons with 18 points.
• Western got seven rebounds from both Connie Clarke and Johnni Gonzalez.
• Since 2019, the Griffons have beaten eight top-25 teams in the Candi Whitaker Era.