On Thursday Missouri Western opened a two game road trip in Pittsburgh, KS taking on the Pittsburgh State Gorillas. The Lady Griffons opened up the night getting off to yet another early lead, but would falter in the following quarters
The Griffons came out of the gate aggressive with full court pressure, to build an early 13-7 lead. MWSU led 20-18 after one quarter. It was all Pitt the rest of the way. The Gorillas used a 22-2 second quarter run to take complete command, carrying a 48-33 lead to halftime and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way winning 96-75
The Griffons, who have struggled offensively this season, shot 44% from the field and put up their largest point total since an 83-81 victory at Rogers State in the season opener on November 19th.
Camille Evans led MWSU with 15 points and six rebounds, marking the fourth time in six games the freshman has scored in double figures. Brionna Budgetts added 12 points, while Jordan Cunningham and Josie Weishaar finished with 10 points a piece
The Lady Griffons now sit at 2-4 on the season after starting off the season hot.
Pittsburg State rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to stun the #19 Missouri Western men 87-84 Thursday night in the Jungle.
The Griffons who had scored 100-points in their last two games, kept that pace in the first half- shooting 51% from the floor, and built a 48-30 lead going to the break. The Gorillas who shot 25.8% in the first frame, opened the second half on a 15-3 run to cut the Griffon lead to six with 14:34 remaining in the game. Western answered and stretched its lead back to 16 points, 76-60 with 7:06 to play, but PSU answered with another 14-2 run to get within four with under five minutes to play.
The Gorillas took their first lead of the game, 85-84, on two free throws with 27 seconds remaining. Trailing 87-84 with 6.9 seconds remaining, Western's Q Mays missed a potential game-trying 3-pointer at the buzzer, sealing the fate on MWSU's first loss of the season.
PSU's Bobby Arthur-Williams led all scorers with 23 points. Tyrell Carroll led the Griffons with 23 points. Mays added 14 and Will Eames recorded his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Western is now 4-1 on the season following the first loss in the Will Martin era.
Missouri Western will continue their road trip on Saturday when they head to Joplin for a matchup with Missouri Southern. The women scheduled to tip off at 1:30 pm and the men scheduled to tipoff at 3:30pm