Box Score | Season Stats

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western Griffons led buzzer to buzzer and handed the Truman Bulldogs a 62-53 defeat in Pershing Arena on Wednesday night.  Jessica Koch scored a game high 20 points for the Griffons as the Bulldogs fall below .500 at 6-7; 4-5 in the MIAA.

The Griffons (9-4; 6-3 MIAA) took a seven point lead midway through the first half  but Breanna Daniels and Malorie Kiecker knocked down three-pointers on consecutive possessions to close the gap to 18-16. From there, Western took over scoring the next 18 points in a three-plus minute span to take control of the game. Koch had seven during that stretch.

Western scored 41 first half points and led by 19 at the break by dominating the paint by a 28-2 margin and grabbing 12 more rebounds.

The Griffons extended their lead to 23 before the Bulldogs tried to mount a comeback. Amy Galey knocked down a triple followed by baskets by Jennifer Conway and Nicole Gloor to cut the lead to 16.

Later, Daniels capped off a four-point play to make the score 54-43 at the 8:09 mark and then knocked down a pair of free throws to bring the deficit below 10.

Lauren Nolke drilled a triple to end the run and Koch followed with five straight to swell the margin back up the 17 with 5:25 to play. That would be the final points scored by Missouri Western as the Bulldog defense gave the team a chance to rally.

The Bulldogs (6-7; 4-5 MIAA) whittled the margin to 11 but missed on four straight possessions before Daniels scored with 1:53 showing. Truman would then miss four three-pointers in the final minute.

Truman finished eight of 25 from beyond the arc and shot just 33% for the game. Daniels and Galey were the only players in double figures with 15 and 13 respectively. Conway pulled down 10 rebounds but Truman lost the rebounding battle by 13.

The Bulldogs will look to regroup and salvage the final game of the three-game conference homestand by hosting winless Lincoln University on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The game has been designated Daddy/Daughter day and all fathers and daughters will receive free popcorn from the concession stand, in addition to the free game admission.