Story by Tommy Rezac
stjosephpost.com

MARYVILLE - Missouri Western women's basketball didn't know until about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, whether or not they had clinched at least a share of the MIAA regular season championship.

The 21st-ranked Griffons (22-4, 17-3 MIAA) had, an hour previously, thumped Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, 67-44, at Bearcat Arena in a battle of NCAA tournament contenders.

Missouri Western, in order to clinch on Saturday, needed not only to beat Northwest, but also needed Fort Hays State (21-6, 15-6 MIAA) to beat Missouri Southern (19-7, 15-5 MIAA) in Hays, KS.

It took until almost 4:30, it took double overtime, but Hays did beat the second place Lions, 85-81.

The Griffons, with a two-game lead over both MoSo and Hays, have clinched at least a share of the league title, regardless of what happens in their last two regular season games.

As for Saturday's game in Maryville, Missouri Western made a statement, racing out to a 26-5 start and leading by as many as 22.

The Griffons, who have held five straight teams to 59 points or less, and seven straight opponents to sub-40 percent shooting, held the Bearcats (20-6, 14-6 MIAA) to an abysmal 28 percent (14-of-50) from the field.

Northwest was also an ugly 10-of-24 at the free throw line. Missouri Western forced 20 turnovers, and scored 20 points off of those.

The Griffons, winners of 12 straight games and now five straight against Northwest, shot an efficient 51 percent from the field (26-of-51) and were a sharp 12-of-14 at the foul line.

Brionna Budgets led Western with 17 points. Jayme Jackson and Tiani Ellison each had 10. Connie Clarke was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine boards.

LaJahda Boyland came off the bench to score nine.

Molly Hartnett led Northwest with 16 points. Evelyn Vazquez came off the bench for 10.

The Griffons bullied Northwest in the paint, outscoring the Bearcats there 36-12. Northwest also missed five layups.

Missouri Western women's basketball has clinched an MIAA regular season crown for the sixth time in program history and the first time since 2016.

A win at Newman Thursday would give it to the Griffs outright.