Bulldog D Stifles Western In 16-Point Win

NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Final: Truman (Mo.) 80, Missouri Western 64

Truman (Mo.) State University 80 (15-9; 9-9 MIAA)
Missouri Western State University 64 (6-18; 4-14 MIAA)

Box Score
PDF - 12WBTS24.PDF
Newspaper - 12WBTS24.txt

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Six Bulldogs scored in double figures and the Truman defense shutdown one of the nation's top scorers as the Bulldogs handed Missouri Western an 80-64 loss on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena.

A pair of big runs in each half propelled the Bulldogs to even their conference record and take over sole possession of sixth place in the conference. A 10-0 spurt midway through the first half gave Truman a 17-6 advantage at the 10:50 mark while a 17-0 run put the Griffons away by extending Truman's lead to a game-high 25 points at 68-43 with 6:24 left.

Truman's defense was key in the shutdown of the Griffons. The Bulldogs held the MIAA's top scorer Jessica Koch to just five first half points and eight points total. Koch was averaging a shade under 23 points a game and had been in double-figures for the past 33 straight contests. Truman also forced 19 Western turnovers.

Becka McHenry notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists while also grabbing six rebounds. Breanna Daniels and Nicole Gloor led Truman with 13 apiece with Jennifer Conway (12), Allie Norton (12) and Megan Sharpe (10) all finishing in double figures.

Truman shot 50% from the field while holding the Griffons to 37% and 25% from behind the arc. Alicia Bell, Ashleigh Curry and Charlonda Bozeman all had 10 points apiece for Western.

With the Bulldogs win and Lincoln (Mo.) University's loss to Emporia (Kan.) State, Truman moved to sixth place in the conference standings, a game up on the Blue Tigers with the two teams squaring off Wednesday night in Kirksville. Senior night will get underway at 5:30 p.m. from Pershing Arena.

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