JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Griffon Women's Basketball held Lincoln to just 16.% from 3-point range in a 3-for-18 shooting performance on the way to a 90-51 win against the Blue Tigers on the road Wednesday night inside Jason Gym.

The Griffons (14-4, 9-3 MIAA) had five players score in double figures, led by Brionna Budgetts, who had 18 points. Connie Clarke added 18 points and three steals, and Jayme Jackson chipped in as well with 12 points.

Missouri Western did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 25 assists while turning the ball over 12 times. Individually, Alyssa Bonilla dished out the most for the Griffons with six assists. Jordan Cunningham also added with season-high five assists of her own.

The MWSU defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Wednesday's game, forcing 24 Lincoln (6-12, 2-10 MIAA) turnovers while committing 12. Those takeaways turned into 33 points on the other end of the floor. Mackenzie Hart's five steals led the way individually for the Griffons.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After playing to a 4-4 tie early in the game, MWSU went on an 8-0 run with 6:01 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Clarke, to take a 12-4 lead. The Griffons then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 21-14 advantage. Western relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 21 points.

Western built that first-quarter lead to 28-18 before going on an 11-0 run starting at the 7:50 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Clarke, to increase its lead to 39-18. The Griffons proceeded to tack on four points to that lead and enjoyed a 49-24 advantage heading into halftime. Western dominated in the paint, scoring 20 of its 28 points close to the basket.

Following intermission, MWSU continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 51-25 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Tiani Ellison, to expand its lead further to 57-25 with 7:03 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Blue Tigers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Griffons still entered the fourth quarter with a 72-43 edge. Western's bench made the most of its minutes in the period, as non-starters totaled 11 of the team's 23 third-quarter points.

Western's kept widening that lead, expanding it to 78-46 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Kassandra Caron's layup, to grow the lead to 84-46 with 4:08 to go in the contest. The Griffons kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 90-51 win. Western took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 16 of its 18 points in the paint.

GAME NOTES

• The Griffons shot well from 3-point range, knocking down 9-of-20 long-range attempts.
• Western held the Blue Tigers to only 32.1% shooting from the field.
• The Griffons never trailed after taking a 21-14 first-quarter lead.
• Western recorded 25 total assists in the game.
• The Griffs had a great day defensively, holding Lincoln to 16.1% from beyond the arc on 18 attempts.
• Western's bench came alive by adding 35 points to its scoring output.
• Five Griffs scored 10 or more points.
• Caron and Ellison came off the bench to score 10 points apiece.
• The Griffons turned 24 turnovers into 33 points on the offensive end.
• Western forced 24 Lincoln turnovers while committing only 12 on the other end.
• MWSU had a 37-31 edge on the boards in the win.
• The Western defense forced 24 turnovers.
• Western cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
• Budgetts and Clarke led the Griffons with a game-high 18 points apiece.
• Western got a team-high and season-high seven rebounds from Mary Fultz.

UP NEXT
The Griffons next face No. 16-ranked Central Missouri (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Missouri. The Jennies have won four straight and play Northwest Missouri State on Thursday in Warrensburg.

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