ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Make it 11 straight.

Griffon Women's Basketball celebrated Senior Day by keeping Rogers State to 0% from 3-point range in a 0-for-10 shooting performance on the way to a 57-43 victory over the Hillcats at home Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The No. 24-ranked Griffons (21-4, 16-3 MIAA) had two players score in double figures, led by Connie Clarke, who recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Jordan Cunningham tacked on 13 points off the bench, and Johnni Gonzalez added six assists and two steals.

Missouri Western shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up 15 assists on 20 made field goals. Gonzalez's six assists led the Griffons, and Mackenzie Hart also helped out with three assists of her own.

The Griffon defense held Rogers State (9-15, 4-14 MIAA) shooters to just 32.8% from the field. The Griffons also kept Alayzha Knapp to 6-of-20 shooting in the game. The Hillcats did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only six offensive rebounds and scored two second-chance points while MWSU pulled down 38 defensive rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After jumping out to a 7-6 advantage, MWSU went on a 6-0 run with 5:07 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Cunningham, to increase its lead to 13-6. The Griffons then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 14-7 advantage. Western relied on its 3-point shooting in the period, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 14 points.

The Griffons used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 29-20 edge. Western ran the fast break well, scoring nine fast break points.

Western continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Cunningham, to expand its lead further to 36-26 with 4:14 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 41-28 edge. Western played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 12 points in the paint.

The Griffs kept their lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Cunningham's layup, to grow the lead to 47-30 with 8:46 to go in the contest. The Hillcats narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Griffons still cruised the rest of the way for the 57-43 win. Western took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 16 points in the paint.

GAME NOTES

• This 11-game winning streak is the longest of the Candi Whitaker Era, doing so last season from Dec. 17-Jan. 26.
• Now with 12 straight wins at home, this run is tied for the fourth-longest streak in program history.
• Western remains in first place in the MIAA.
• Clarke led the Griffons with a game-high 15 points and 14 boards.
• Clarke's double-double is her fourth this season and the 26th of her career.
• The Griffons never trailed after taking a 14-7 first quarter lead.
• Western put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 75% of made field goals.
• The Griffs had a great day defensively, holding Rogers State to 0% from beyond the arc on 10 attempts.
• The Western bench made an impact by adding 29 points to its scoring output.
• Western had a 43-34 edge on the boards in the win.
• The Griffon defense forced 18 turnovers.

UP NEXT
Western will meet Northwest Missouri State (20-5, 14-5 MIAA) for round two this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Missouri. The Bearcats have won five in a row, last defeating Northeastern State 72-54 on Saturday in Maryville.

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