TOPEKA, Kan. - The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team improved to 3-1 with a 73-63 victory over Rockhurst University at the Washburn Thanksgiving Classic.

Northwest (3-1 overall) drained a season-high 10 three-pointers and shot a season-best 47.3% from the field.

Senior Mallory McConkey registered her fifth 20-point scoring game of her career with a game-high 21 points. McConkey also added eight rebounds and five assists.

Northwest bounced out to an 18-8 lead after one quarter of play. Northwest shot 7-of-15 from the field in the first, while Rockhurst made only 2-of-12 from the floor. The Bearcats sank three first-period three-pointers, while Rockhurst threw up blanks from deep. 

Rockhurst drew even at the half, 33-33. Rockhurst took advantage at the free throw line in the second by making all 10 of its attempts.

McConkey scored the first three buckets of the second half to help Northwest build a 39-35 lead. Caely Kesten, a Lawrence, Kan., native, buried a three-pointer to up the lead to five at 42-37. Jayna Green sank a triple to close the quarter that gave Northwest a six-point lead at 55-49.

McConkey went to work again in the fourth by scoring Northwest's first three baskets again. The third bucket gave Northwest a 61-51 lead with 7:19 to play in the game. Rockhurst would climb to within seven at 64-57 but could get no closer. Northwest was a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line in the final two minutes to ice the 73-63 victory.

Northwest will take on Winona State Saturday at 1 p.m.

NOTES: Molly Hartnett joined McConkey in double figures with 15 points ... Rockhurst won the rebounding battle, 34-28 ... Northwest limited Rockhurst to 2-of-8 shooting from three-point land ... Northwest went 10-of-27 from three-point range in the win ... Rockhurst made 19 field goals, but went 23-of-31 at the free throw line ... Northwest made 26 field goals and was 11-of-14 at the free throw line ... Northwest is off to its best start at 3-1 since a 5-0 start to the 2016-17 season.