ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The streak continues.

Griffon Women's Basketball went into the halftime break trailing Nebraska Kearney by seven but fought back from the deficit to beat the Lopers 73-61 at home Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons (17-4, 12-3 MIAA) had two players score in double figures, led by Brionna Budgetts, who had 14 points. Jayme Jackson added 12 points and a career-high three blocks, and Mary Fultz added eight points.

Missouri Western shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up 17 assists on 29 made field goals. Kassandra Caron, Alyssa Bonilla, Connie Clarke and Budgetts dished out the most for the Griffons with three assists apiece.

The Griffon defense held Kearney (15-6, 9-6 MIAA) to only 15.8% shooting from beyond the arc and 36.1% from the field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 5-0, MWSU went on a 5-0 run with 7:57 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Budgetts, to tie the game at five. The Griffons then proceeded to grab a 14-13 lead heading into quarter number two. Western did most of its first-quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 14 points close to the basket.

The Griffons could not maintain their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 32-25.

Western came out of halftime on fire, going on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Budgetts, to grab a 34-32 lead with 7:32 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Griffons added 15 points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 57-40 edge. Western took advantage of four Kearney turnovers in the quarter, scoring eight points off of takeaways. The Griffons then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Western took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 16 points in the paint.

GAME NOTES

• Western rallied from a seven-point 32-25 halftime deficit to pick up the win.
• The Griffons held the Lopers to only 36.1% shooting from the field.
• Western recorded 17 total assists in the game.
• The Griffs had a stellar day defensively, holding Kearney to 15.8% from 3-point land on 19 attempts.
• The Western bench made an impact by adding 32 points to its scoring output.
• Western's defense forced 15 turnovers.
• The Griffons were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team.
• Budgetts led the Griffons with 14 points.
• Western got a team-high six rebounds from Clarke.
• The Griffons have won nine straight at home in St. Joseph, the second-longest streak of the Candi Whitaker Era.

UP NEXT
Western gears up for another road trip next week, taking on Washburn (11-10, 6-9 MIAA) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kansas. The Ichabods fell to Northeastern State 66-62 on Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

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