TOPEKA, Kan. — Winning a season-high eighth straight game, Griffon Women's Basketball got a 31-point performance from the bench on the way to a 72-59 victory over the Washburn Ichabods on the road Wednesday inside Lee Arena.

The Griffons (18-4, 13-3 MIAA) had three players score in double figures, led by Tiani Ellison, who had a game-high 15 points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocks. Brionna Budgetts added 14 points, and Jayme Jackson chipped in as well with 11 points and two steals.

Missouri Western out-rebounded Washburn 41-36 in Wednesday's game, paced by Connie Clarke's season-high 15 boards.

The Griffon defense held Washburn (11-11, 6-10 MIAA) to only 32.8% shooting from the field, including 21.4% from beyond the arc. The Griffons also limited Aubree Dewey to 4-of-18 shooting and 10 points in the game. The Ichabods did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with nine offensive rebounds and managed 12 second-chance points, while MWSU cleared 33 defensive rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After jumping out to a 7-6 advantage, MWSU went on an 8-0 run with 5:53 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Jackson, to increase its lead to 15-6. The Griffons then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 20-12 advantage. Western relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 20 points.

Western kept its first-quarter lead intact before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 3:56 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Ellison, to increase its lead to 33-20. The Ichabods cut into that lead, but the Griffons still enjoyed a 38-26 advantage heading into halftime. Western saw non-starters score six of its 18 total points off the bench in the quarter.

Western continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Clarke, to expand its lead further to 48-33 with 2:03 to go in the third. The Griffons held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 52-37 edge. Western played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 14 points in the paint.

The Griffons kept their lead intact before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Ellison's jumper, to grow the lead to 65-48 with 4:23 to go in the contest. The Ichabods narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Griffons still cruised the rest of the way for the 72-59 win. Western took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 20 points in the paint.

GAME NOTES

• Ellison scored a game-high 15 points while playing off the bench. It's the freshman's fourth game this season with 15 or more points.
• The Griffons held the Ichabods to only 32.8% shooting from the field.
• MWSU never trailed after taking a 20-12 first-quarter lead.
• The Western bench came alive by adding 31 points to its scoring output.
• Candi Whitaker's team had a 41-36 edge on the boards in the win.
• Western's defense forced 15 turnovers.
• The Griffons were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying six blocks as a team.
• The Griffs got a game-high 15 rebounds from Clarke.
• Western has beaten Washburn in six straight outings, logging the Griffons' third-longest winning streak against the Ichabods since first playing in 1976.

UP NEXT
The Griffons will stay on the road and head to Emporia State (10-12, 7-9 MIAA) for a 1:30 p.m. bout on Saturday in White Auditorium. The Hornets are coming off a home loss to Northwest Missouri State, falling 86-52 on Wednesday night in Emporia, Kansas.