ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women's basketball team lost at home to Pittsburg State Wednesday night 61-59. The Griffons were swept by the Gorillas this season as MWSU falls to 18-7 and 10-6 in the MIAA. Pitt improves to 15-9 and 11-5 in league play.
Missouri Western got two possessions in the final 23 seconds, but couldn't get a game-tying or game-winning shot to fall. Kaylee DaMitz made one of two free throws with 26 seconds left to put the Gorillas up by two. The Griffons missed two layups on their ensuing possession, but got the ball right back after a Pitt State turnover with six seconds remaining. The inbounds pass was intercepted by the Gorillas, handing MWSU just its second home loss of the season.
The game got off to a frantic pace with both teams shooting better than 55% from the field late in the first quarter. The Griffons led 19-16 after the first 10 minutes, but a 20-11 Gorilla advantage in the second quarter sent Pitt State to halftime with a narrow lead. Missouri Western recaptured the lead with 3:54 to go on a Katrina Roenfeldt jumper. After Pitt State quickly regained the lead, Roenfeldt and Corbyn Cunningham combined to make four-straight free throws that put the Griffs back up by a point. A Pitt State layup and DaMitz's free throw later and the Griffons were back down 61-59.
NOTABLES
- All seven of the Griffons' losses have come by nine points or less.
- Five of Missouri Western's seven losses have come by four points or less.
- The Griffons led in the fourth quarter of all but one loss this season.
- The game was tied six times with six lead changes.
- Missouri Western went 4 of 16 from the field in the fourth quarter and missed all four of its 3-point attempts in the quarter.
- The Griffons made four more field goals than Pitt State, shooting two percent better, but made five fewer 3-point attempts and five fewer free throws than the Gorillas.
- 10 Griffon scored in the game, but Corbyn Cunningham was the only Griff in double-figures with 15 points.
- Roenfeldt led MWSU with 10 rebounds and six steals.
- The game was originally scheduled to be the first half of a doubleheader with the Griffon Men's Basketball team, but travel complications for Pittsburg State forced a schedule change to just a single game with the men taking on Pittsburg State on Feb. 20.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Missouri Southern (8-15, 5-10) on Saturday, Feb. 22. The Griffons defeated the Lions 65-61 in Joplin on Feb. 15.
--- MWSU Athletics ---