The Missouri Western Griffons won a back and forth
battle 68-64 to earn their first victory of the season on the road in
Kirksville, Mo. against the Truman State Bulldogs. Western’s Tierra
Ford had two of her seven steals in the final minute of the contest to
help the Griffons seal the victory and move to 1-13 overall and 1-7 in
the MIAA.

Western shot a blistering 53.8-percent (14-26) in the first half
against the Bulldogs with Houchin leading the way with 12 points on
5-of-7 shooting and dishing out two assists. The Griffons snared one
more rebound then the Bulldogs (13-12) in the half and had 22 points in
the paint to Truman’s eight.

With the two teams tied at nine early in the game Western would go on a
7-0 run which was capped off by a steal and lay-up by Tierra Ford at the
11:55 mark. The Bulldogs would answer with a 10-2 run of their own
taking a one point lead at 19-18 off of a Laura Joya jumper with 5:35
left in the frame.

The rest of the half would be all Griffons as they closed on a 13-6 run
taking a six point lead (31-25), which is their largest halftime lead of
the season.

The Griffons were able to hold the leagues 4th leading scorer Georgia
Meuller to just six points on 3-of-5 shooting in the half. Mindy
Hutchcroft also had six points for Truman. The Bulldogs shot
45.5-percent (10-22), but turned the ball over 11 times.

The Griffons could not shake the feisty Bulldogs in the second half as
Western’s biggest lead of the half would be seven points at 38-31 with
15:09 left in the contest. The Bulldogs would battle back tying the game
at 59 on a Joya jumper with 2:22 left in the contest.

Western would go on a 6-0 run to take the 65-59 lead on a Jessica Koch
lay-up with 32 second to go. The Bulldogs would cut the lead to three
but a free throw and a couple of steals by Ford sealed the Griffons
first victory since March 1, 2008 against the Missouri Southern Lions by
a score of 70-58 in St. Joseph.

Koch recorded her second double double of her career with 19 points and
12 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting. Houchin and Ford chipped in 16 points
apiece as the Griffons finished the game shooting 46.6-percent (27-58)
from the field.

The Bulldogs were led by Mueller as she had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5
assists. Malorie Kiecker and Joya finished the night with 14 and 12
respectively as the Bulldogs shot 46.3-percent (25-54) from the field.

Western forced 20 Bulldog turnovers and scored 44 points in the paint
to Truman’s 18. 

Courtesy of Missouri Western athletics.