By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
CLAREMORE, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team raced out to a 13-0 start and used a massive fourth quarter to blow out Rogers State, 84-44, at the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Oklahoma Thursday.
The Griffons (10-3, 5-2 MIAA) led by 21 points at halftime. Rogers State made a decent push in the third quarter, making it a 54-38 game to start the fourth quarter.
Missouri Western answered by hitting each of their first five three-point attempts in the fourth, and shooting 10-of-15 from the field in the final 10 minutes.
Rogers State (6-6, 1-5 MIAA) was just 1-of-18 in the fourth quarter, including 0-of-7 from three.
The Griffons held the Hillcats to just 22.6% shooting overall Thursday, while Missouri Western shot 50.8%, including 13-of-28 from three.
Jayme Jackson led Missouri Western with 17 points. Brionna Budgets turned in a season-high 15 points on a season-high four made three-pointers. Connie Clarke scored 11 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals.
The win is Missouri Western's fifth in a row. The Griffons are also now 6-0 against Rogers State in women's basketball all time.
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Griffon men build big lead, hold on late against Rogers State
After nine lead changes and two ties through the first 15 minutes, Missouri Western took a 27-25 lead after Zion Swader made a three-pointer with 4:35 left before halftime.
The Griffons never lost the lead again, and in fact, led by 23 points with 11:54 remaining in the game.
Rogers State (6-6, 3-3 MIAA) made a furious rally, getting to within six points with 13 seconds left, but Missouri Western made enough free throws to hold on, 90-83, at the Claremore Expo Center Thursday.
Missouri Western (10-3, 4-3 MIAA) closed the first half on a 11-2 run to go up 40-29 at the break. The Griffons continued to roll in the first 10 minutes of the second half, leading 64-45 with 10:14 to go.
Rogers State made six three-pointers in the second half and shot 65.6% in the final 20 minutes to get back in it.
The Hillcats got to within 82-74 with 1:37 remaining, but the Griffons made eight of their last 12 free throw attempts to hold their lead.
Missouri Western made 15-of-21 free throws Thursday.
The Griffons shot the ball well all game long, finishing with a 59.6% clip (34-of-57) from the field Thursday. Missouri Western also dominated the rebounds, 25-17.
Swader led five Griffons in double figures with 22 points. Taye Fields tallied 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
JaRon Thames turned in 15 points. Kiani Saxon scored 13 and Julius Dixon added 12.
Missouri Western earned its first win at Rogers State since November 2020, and their first win over the Hillcats at all since December 2021.
Rogers State had also won eight straight home games entering Thursday's contest.
Both Missouri Western teams stay on the road Saturday to face Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
The women's game is at 1:30, the men's at 3:30. Both are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).
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