Lincoln women to face Missouri Western in MIAA tourney

Lizzie Nessling of Lincoln looks to find room toward the basket between Central Missouri teammates Justina Prairie Chief (left) and Revonnia Howard during a game last month at Jason Gym.
Lizzie Nessling of Lincoln looks to find room toward the basket between Central Missouri teammates Justina Prairie Chief (left) and Revonnia Howard during a game last month at Jason Gym.

This one's for all the marbles.

The Lincoln women's basketball team has played Missouri Western twice this season, with the home team winning both times. The Blue Tigers will need to end that streak if they're going to reap the big prize.

When the Blue Tigers meet the Griffons at 7 p.m. today in St. Joseph, it will have the importance of being a first-round game in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament.

The winner will advance to the eight-team portion of the event held Friday through Sunday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

The Griffons (14-11 overall, 9-10 MIAA) earned the right to host today's game by snagging the seventh seed with their regular-season results, while Lincoln (12-13, 7-12) will come in as the 10th seed. The winner will move on to play second-seeded Emporia State (22-4, 15-4) at 6 p.m. Friday.

Lincoln won the first meeting with Missouri Western by a 76-72 score Jan. 29 at Jason Gym, but the Griffons got a measure of revenge with a 77-49 win Feb. 18 in St. Joseph.

To get a win, the Blue Tigers will need to slow down the MIAA's leading scorer, as Griffons guard LaQuinta Jefferson (6-0, jr.) racks up 20.7 points per game. Another guard, Sarafina Handy (5-9, jr.) also averages double figures with 12.9 points per game.

Forwards Tiara Hall (6-1, sr.) and Mhykeah Baez (6-1, jr.) are the leading rebounders for Missouri Western, pulling down 4.7 and 4.6 per game, respectively.

The Blue Tigers counter with a balanced effort, as Hunter Yoakum (12.2 ppg), Kelsey Williams (12.1) and Kate Frazier (10.4) are all scoring in double figures. Dorian Briggs is close behind with 8.8 ppg and Lizzie Nessling leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game.