Women's Basketball | 3/1/2018 11:07:27 PM

Kansas City, Mo. – In the second-straight upset of the tournament, No. 12 seed Missouri Western defeated No. 4 Central Oklahoma 49-46 tonight to advance to the semifinals of the 2018 MIAA Tournament.
 
The game nearly broke a Tournament record for fewest points scored between two teams as the 95 points was just six off the record.
 
Central Oklahoma (22-7) was led by 13 points from Blake Blessington and 11 from Melinda Murillo, while Jesheon cooper had eight points and ten rebounds.
 
Missouri Western (13-17) got 17 points from Melia Richardson
 
Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter, but a three from Murillo for the Bronchos gave UCO a 10-7 lead after one quarter.
 
A pair of free throws from UCO’s Jesheon Cooper gave the Bronchos a 15-11 lead with 6:21 left in the second quarter, but Western got to within one (16-15) after a pair of freebies from Richardson with 4:22 left.
 
A three from Richardson with 3:20 on the clock gave the Griffons an 18-17 lead, but a bucket from Bessington gave the Bronchos a 21-20 lead at the break.
 
A layup from the Bronchos’ Cooper put UCO up 23-20 to start the third quarter, but an 10-0 run from the Griffons had Western up 30-23 with 4:26 left. UCO answered that run with a 10-0 run of its own and the Bronchos led 33-30 with 1:47 left in the third. Western would hit a pair of jumpers to end the quarter, leading 34-33.
 
A three from Savannah Lentz gave the Griffons a 41-39 lead with 5:19 left in the quarter and the lead for Western was four (47-43) with 1:34 to go. UCO hit a free throw with four seconds left to get within three (49-46), but the Griffons would hold on for the win.
 
Western moves on to face Lindenwood in the semifinals at 2:15 pm on Saturday afternoon.