Feb. 21, 2009
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Senior forward Georgia Mueller poured in a season-best 29 points and the Truman women’s basketball team dominated the glass en route to picking up a 71-62 road win at Missouri Western on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (7-19, 4-15 MIAA) notched their first MIAA road win of the season on the final try while also salvaging a season-split with the Griffons (6-19, 5-13 MIAA) and snapping a two-game skid.
Truman led 18-14 midway through the first half before rattling off a 10-3 run to move ahead 28-17 with 11:11 to go in the opening frame. The purple and white would push the lead to 12 later in the half before carrying a 41-34 lead into the intermission. The Bulldogs shot a blistering 54% (15-of-28) from the field in the first half and were led by 19 from Mueller.
However, the hot shooting from the opening 20 minutes left the Bulldogs early in the second half, as Missouri Western pieced together an 11-4 run out of the break to tie the score at 45 apiece with 14:07 to play. The squads were tied at 50 a few minutes later, before Truman pushed the lead to five on a Mueller lay-up with 5:18 to play.
Brittany Casady cut the Truman lead to just three off a bucket with 5:08 remaining, but that would be the last field goal Missouri Western would hit, as the Bulldog defense held the Griffons to just four free throws down the stretch while pulling away for the nine-point win.
For the game, Truman hit 41% (24-of-58) from the field, including a six-of 16 mark from long-range. The Bulldogs converted 85% (17-of-20) free throws, including eight straight down the stretch, while out-rebounding Missouri Western 40-29 on the glass to seal the game.
Mueller added a game-high nine rebounds to her season-high in points, while junior guard Laura Joya scored 15 points on six-of-11 shooting and pulled down six rebounds. Sophomore forward Malorie Kiecker chipped in 12 points off the bench, while junior guard Julie Guinn dished out a game-high six assists.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over just ten times and used a 14-7 edge on the offensive glass to outscore Missouri Western 17-8 on second chance points.
Jessica Koch and Tierra Ford scored 17 points each for the Griffons, who still hold a slight lead on the No. 8 spot in the conference standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
Truman will be idle on Wednesday night before wrapping up the regular season next Saturday (Feb. 28) at home against Central Missouri at 1:00 p.m.