The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team dropped to 7-11 on the season in a 69-58 loss to Emporia State.
The Bearcats played a tight first quarter with the Hornets as they led just 8-7 with five minutes remaining in the period.
Molly Hartnett and
Mia Stillman each recorded three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game. A Karsen Schultz jump shot with one second left in the quarter gave the Hornets a 15-13 lead.
Northwest and Emporia continued to trade baskets throughout the second quarter, keeping the score within two points the entire period until two Hornet free throws gave the home team a 28-24 lead heading into the halftime break.
Tre'Zure Jobe led the Hornet charge in the third quarter, scoring 11 of her game-high 24 points, but
Jaelyn Haggard had a run of her own, hitting two of her team-high five triples before
Caely Kesten also made a three-pointer to cut the lead to four heading into the final period.
The Bearcats allowed the Hornet lead to grow to nine points in the fourth quarter before a Kesten triple cut the lead to 55-49. Jobe stormed back with a three-point play of her own after a driving layup and making her free throw, but Hartnett and Kesten answered with three-pointers of their own to cut the lead down to five with 3:07 remaining in the game.
The Hornets finished on a 9-2 run to take over and win the game, 69-58.
Turnovers proved to be the Bearcat weakness throughout the game, but especially in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over four times while allowing 20 total points off turnovers.
The Bearcats will be back in action on Saturday when they take on Washburn. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. in Topeka, Kansas.
NOTES:
Jaelyn Haggard led the Bearcats with 15 points off of five three-pointers …
Caely Kesten chipped in 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point land …
Mia Stillman tied her career-high with 11 points …
Molly Hartnett dished out a career-high seven assists to go along with two steals …
Mallory McConkey pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while tallying two steals and two blocks.