ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team won its third straight contest opening up MIAA play with a 73-55 victory over the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Western had 17 offensive rebounds collecting 15 second chance points. Jessica Koch led the way with 19 points while Lauren Nolke dumped in 15. Western improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in MIAA action.
Behind 14 first half points from Koch the Griffons were able to take a 36-25 lead over the Gorillas at the half. The Gorillas jumped out to a 9-7 lead after a jumper from Kylee Baldetti with 12:57 to play in the half. Western caught fire the next ten minutes going on a 24-7 run taking its biggest lead of the half at 15 after two Brenna Saline free throws with 4:50 remaining in the frame.
The Gorillas started pounding it inside the rest of the half to Larissa Richards as she scored nine points in five minutes trimming the Western halftime lead to 11. Koch made 4-of-5 field goals and connected on all three of her long range shots. Saline pitched in eight points and four rebounds at the half.
Western shot 39.4-percent (13-33) from the field and had nine assists on 13 field goals. The Griffons had 23 rebounds with ten coming on the offensive end of the floor.
Pitt State shot 39.3-percent (11-28) from the field with Richards connecting on all four of her field goal attempts. The Gorillas had 14 points in the paint and 11 bench points in the frame.
The Gorillas never got closer than 10 points in the second half as the Griffons opened up a 27 points lead after a Nolke jumper with 5:02 to play in the contest. The Gorillas closed on an 18-9 run to close the game but it would not be enough as they fall to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play.
Nine different Griffons scored in the contest as Saline scored eight points and snared seven rebounds with four on the offensive end of the floor. Colleen Schneider pitched in six points and six rebounds while Rachel Luteyn scored seven points and had seven rebounds.
Western shot 42.4-percent (28-66) from the field and made 31.0-percent (9-29) from long range. The Griffons had 19 assists in the contest to go along with six blocks and eight steals.
The Gorillas shot 35.6-percent (21-59) from the floor and made 7-of-23 from long range. PSU had 11 assists and scored 24 points in the paint and had 26 bench points.
The Griffons will be in action again on Saturday, December 4 when they open the road portion of their MIAA schedule against the 10th ranked Emporia State Lady Hornets. Game time is set for 5:30 pm from White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan.
Missouri Western State University (located in St. Joseph, Mo.) is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
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