JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team extended its win streak to seven in a row and stayed perfect in MIAA play with a 56-43 road win over the Lincoln Blue Tigers at Jason Gymnasium.
 
Northwest (7-1 overall, 3-0 MIAA) put on a defensive show by limiting Lincoln to 28.1% shooting from the field (16-of-57 field goals). Northwest also did not allow Lincoln to make a three-point field goal as the Blue Tigers went 0-of-7 from three-point land.
 
Northwest's 3-0 start in the MIAA is the best start for the Bearcats in league play since also going 3-0 in the 2007-08 season Northwest's best start to MIAA play came in the 2003-04 season when the Bearcats won their first seven league contests.
 
Northwest's defense locked in early and forced Lincoln to miss its first 10 field goal attempts of the game. The Bearcat offense produced five field goals in the opening 10 minutes to produce a 13-8 lead. Molly Hartnett tallied seven first-quarter points to lead the Bearcats.
 
Lincoln drew even in the second quarter at 15-15, but Northwest refused to allow the Blue Tigers to take the lead. Northwest responded with a 10-3 run that was capped by a pair of three-pointers from Peyton Kelderman that gave the Bearcats a 25-18 lead with :25.5 left in the half. Lincoln scored with :06 left to leave Northwest on top 25-20 at the break. Mallory McConkey led all scorers with nine first-half points.
 
Northwest hit Lincoln with a 9-0 run after giving up the first bucket of the third quarter and sprinted out to a 34-22 lead with 5:39 left in the quarter. Northwest enjoyed a 17-9 scoring edge in the third quarter. The Bearcats led by 13 at the conclusion of the quarter, 42-29.
 
Mallory McConkey led all scorers with 17 points. She was joined in double figures by Molly Hartnett (14 points) and Peyton Kelderman (10 points).
 
Northwest will return to action Monday at Central Missouri. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
 
NOTES: Emma Atwood returned to the court for the first time since suffering an injury in the home opener vs. Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 12 … Kelderman has made at least two three-pointers in all eight of Northwest's games this season … McConkey has scored in double figures in five consecutive games … Northwest won the rebounding battle, 42-38 … Northwest is 17-1 under head coach Austin Meyer when it wins the battle of the boards.