MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball saw a 21-point first-quarter lead evaporate into a 64-48 loss to the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs in Bearcat Arena.
 
Redshirt freshman Molly Hartnett led the Bearcats in scoring with 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the floor. Hartnett dropped in a pair of three-pointers. Sophomore Jayna Green dropped in 11 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and an assist. Green scored nine of her points in the first quarter as she drained a trio of three-pointers.
 
Northwest came out sizzling in the first 10 minutes by draining 11-of-16 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range. Northwest built a 27-6 advantage while SMSU was as chilly as the night air in Maryville.
 
The Mustangs made 1-of-20 shots from the field in the opening quarter, but did knock in four free throw attempts to tally a six-point quarter.
 
SMSU flipped the script in the second quarter and out-scored Northwest, 26-9. The Mustangs buried 10-of-16 shots in the second quarter, while the Bearcats dried up and made only 2-of-12 field goals.
 
Northwest took a 36-32 lead into the intermission.
 
The Mustangs took their first lead of the game in the third quarter with 9:11 to play at 37-36. SMSU would push the margin out to six at 42-36. The Mustangs used a 19-4 that gave the visitors a 61-45 lead.
 
The Bearcats endured a 4-for-35 shooting slump that went from the second quarter into the fourth quarter. During that stretch, Northwest's 27-6 lead turned into a 61-45 deficit. Northwest managed only four points in the fourth quarter as SMSU out-scored the 'Cats 14-4 in the final stanza.
 
Over the final three quarters, Northwest went 5-of-41 from the field. Northwest shot 28.1% from the field for the game. SMSU shot 33.3% for the game.
 
The Bearcats will look to bounce back Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. against Minnesota Crookston. Crookston suffered a 74-58 loss to Nebraska-Kearney earlier Friday night in Bearcat Arena.