By TIGER MEDIA NETWORK
Photos by LOREN McQUEENY
The tone was set early.
And in the end, the final score proved it.
Missouri Western State University women’s basketball team started hot from the field and never let up in a huge upset of No. 2 Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Central Regional in Hays.
The Griffons bolted out of the gates and went on to win 111-77 to reach the regional semifinals Saturday against fellow MIAA school University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Missouri Western (22-9) led 20-12 after the first quarter and 50-28 at halftime. When the final horn sounded, the Griffons had shot 65% from the field, including 63% from 3-point range.
Brionna Budgetts led Missouri Western with 19 points, including a 5-of-8 effort from deep. Jaelyn Haggard matched Budgetts’ performance from long range while adding 15 points.
Two other Griffons – Connie Clarke (15) and Mychaell Gray (13) – also scored in double figures.
Missouri Western outscored the Bulldogs each quarter en route to the 34-point win – giving SWOSU its worst defeat in the NCAA DII tourney in school history. The Bulldogs’ previous worst loss in the NCAA tournament was a 32-point setback to Emporia State in the 2013-14 season.
SWOSU (29-5) was riding a 14-game winning streak entering the regional. Makyra Tramble led the Bulldogs with a career-high 34 points, setting the school record for most points by a player in an NCAA tourney. Hayden Priddy scored 32 against Fort Hays State in the regional title game in 2019.
Karly Gore added 12 points for SWOSU, who lost in the South Central Regional final last year to Lubbock Christian, which went on to win the national title.
The Bulldogs were coming into the regional riding a high after winning their three GAC tourney games last week by an average of 17.7 points. For the season, SWOSU was hitting 34% from 3-point range but connected on only 18% (3 of 17) against the Griffons.
The 111 points given up by the Bulldogs were the most all season. SWOSU gave up 92 points to Drury in a loss to start the season. The 111 points were the most given up in school history in the NCAA tourney, eclipsing the 97 given up to Emporia State in 2013-14.
The Griffons, making their first NCAA appearance since 2016, had won only three of their last nine games before Friday – including a 1-4 showing in their last five games.
It was the first time the two schools had played each other.
Missouri Western’s Corbyn Cunningham looks for an open teammate in front of SWOSU’s Bethany Franks during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Jaelyn Haggard shoots over a SWOSU defender during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Makyra Tramble was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Macy Gore watches a shot go up against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Jordan Cunningham (40) and Brionna Budgetts (23) battled against SWOSU during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Lauren Ramey motions to a teammate against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Mary Fultz reacts after being fouled by a SWOSU player during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Mary Fultz shoots a free throw against SWOSU during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Mary Fultz shoots a free throw against SWOSU during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western took care of SWOSU 111-77 during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Corbyn Cunningham drives to the hoop in front of SWOSU’s Layni Zinn during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU”s Layni Zinn dribbles up the floor in front of Missouri Western’s Camille Evans during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Makyra Tramble looks down the court against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Macy Gore tries to keep the ball away from Missouri Western’s Brionna Budgetts during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Makyra Tramble battles for a rebound against two Missouri Western defenders during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Karly Gore prepares to shoot a free throw against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Karly Gore shoots a free throw against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Karly Gore shoots a free throw against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Karly Gore drives to the hoop against Missouri Western’s Corbyn Cunningham during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Shamica Smith shoots a free throw against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
SWOSU’s Makyra Tramble shoots a free throw against Missouri Western during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Missouri Western’s Alyssa Bonilla dribbles up the court against SWOSU’s Morgan Smith during Friday’s quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays.