ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western Women's Basketball battled all the way down the stretch, erasing multiple leads before a Pittsburg State last-second shot downed the Griffons, 68-66, on Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse on Senior Day.

The Griffons (24-6, 18-4 MIAA) were led by Connie Clarke's 16 points. Jordan Cunningham and Brionna Budgetts both scored 13 as well for the Griffons. Grace Pyle led Pittsburg State with 20 points. Three other Gorillas scored in double-digits. 

Pitt State (22-6, 17-5 MIAA) started the game hot, going up double-digits, leading by a score of 15-5 at the 3:47 mark of the first quarter. The Griffons battled back and cut the lead to three, trailing at the end of the quarter, 17-14. 

The Griffon run continued in the second quarter, taking the lead on a Trinity Knapp jumper with 10 seconds left in the quarter in the midst of a 12-2 run. The Griffons led at the break, 33-32.

The Gorillas stormed back in the third quarter, quickly retaking the lead. They took the lead just after the four-minute mark and kept extending their advantage as far as six before the Griffons cut it back to four at the end of the quarter. 

Both teams battled back and forth in the final quarter. Pitt State held the lead until the Clarke tied it at 66-66 with just under 15 second left, but a final push from the Gorillas' Harper Schreiner seal the deal.

NOTABLES

• The Griffons shot well from the field, nailing 50% of their shots but couldn't connect from deep, shooting 13.3% from three. 
• Missouri Western held onto the ball well, only turning the ball over 11 times compared to 16 from PSU. 
• Clarke finished with four steals.

UP NEXT 
The Griffons take on Fort Hays State (19-11, 14-8 MIAA) in the MIAA Tournament during the quarterfinal round. Tip-off is slated for Friday, March 3 at 8:15 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. The Griffons and Tigers split the regular-season series, 1-1, both winning on the other's home floor.