Deep Southern Shooting Downs Western Women 67-59

The Missouri Western Women fell into an early hole they couldn't dig out of.

Missouri Southern used early precision three-point shooting to down the Griffons  67-59 Wednesday at the Leggett and Platt Center in Joplin, MO.

The Lady Lions went 8-11 from behind the arc (72.7%) in the first half and took a 39-22 lead into halftime.

Erin Rice scored 15 of her game-high 24 point in the first frame. The Griffons shot just 26.1 percent in that time.

Western fought back in the second half, cutting the lead to 50-42 with a Jessica Koch lay-up, but the Grifons could get no closer.

The Griffons were out-rebounded 41-29.

Lauren Nolke led the Griffons with 15 points.  Jessica Koch added 13 and Rachel Luteyn chipped in 10.

The Griffons held the MIAA's leading scorer, Jasmine Lovejoy to just 10 points.

Western returns to home action Saturday, December 11th when it hosts Fort Hays State at 1:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.