Jan. 14, 2009 – Senior Georgia Mueller posted 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, but the Truman women’s basketball team couldn’t completely close the gap in the second half and fell 68-64 to Missouri Western on Wednesday night in Pershing Arena.
The Bulldogs (4-12, 1-8 MIAA) took an early 6-3 lead, but the squad just scored five points during the next eight minutes to let the Griffons (1-13, 1-7) take a 16-11 lead with 9:50 to play in the opening frame. Truman bounced back to lead once more in the first half, but again, Missouri Western held the Bulldogs scoreless – this time for a three minute stretch – to build an eight point margin with 2:45 remaining in the half.
Taking a 31-25 advantage out of the locker room at halftime, the Griffons kept a slim lead for nearly 18 minutes before a Laura Joya jumper knotted the score at 59 with 2:22 left in the game. Missouri Western’s Jessica Koch (19 points, 12 rebounds) came right down and glided in for a lay-up to give the Griffons its final lead of the night, as the gold and black picked up its first win of the season by holding on for the four-point win.
The two squads were nearly identical from behind the arc (Truman: 4-of-17; Missouri Western: 4-of-18), and each team drained ten free throws. But the Griffons (46.6%) barely edged Truman (46.3%) from the floor for the night and turned four additional offensive rebounds and four fewer turnovers into two extra buckets.
Mueller’s balanced night led the Bulldogs in points, while she shared the assists-high with junior Julie Guinn (six points, five assists). Sophomore Malorie Kiecker added 14 points, while Joya tacked on 12 points and a team-high seven boards.
Koch finished with a double-double for the Griffons, and both London Houchin (16) and Tierra Ford (16) finished in double-figures. Koch’s night was aided by a team-high five assists, and Ford added seven steals.
Truman takes Saturday off before hitting the floor again next Wednesday night at Central Missouri. That match with the Jennies will mark the midway point of the MIAA slate, as the Bulldogs travel to Missouri Southern on Saturday (Jan. 24).