WICHITA, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team ended its three-game week by securing its second straight victory with a 54-42 triumph over the Newman University Jets at Fugate Gymnasium.
 
The Bearcats closed the game on a 13-2 run to record their third road victory of the season.
 
Northwest improved to 13-5 overall and 8-4 in MIAA play. It's the most wins for Northwest overall and in MIAA play since the 2012-13 season when the Bearcats went 15-13 overall and 8-10 in MIAA action.
 
Newman fell to 2-17 overall and 0-13 in league play. It was also the Jets's 13th straight loss this season.
 
The Bearcats found the shooting to be frigid in the first seven-plus minutes of the contest. Northwest missed its first 10 shots, but only trailed 6-0. Jillian Fleming knocked in a three-pointer with 2:14 to play in the first for Northwest's initial bucket of the game. Molly Hartnett followed with a three of her own. Jayna Green scored in the line with :04.4 remaining in the quarter to give Northwest an 8-6 lead at the end of one quarter.
 
Northwest warmed up in the second by hitting on 7-of-10 field goals (70.0%). Northwest closed the half on a 13-4 run. Newman was limited to two made field goals in the final 6:30 of the second quarter. Northwest out-scored Newman in the second, 19-10, to hold a 27-16 lead at the intermission.
 
The Bearcats extended its lead to 15 at 35-20 with 6:03 left in the quarter on back-to-back three-pointers from Green and Emma Atwood. For Atwood, it was her first made three-pointer of her collegiate career. However, the Jets responded with a 9-0 run to cut the Bearcat lead to 35-29 with 2:46 left in the quarter. Two buckets in the final two minutes from Kelsey Fields allowed Northwest to take a 41-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Jets took advantage of another Bearcat scoring drought to start the fourth. Newman hit a pair of three-pointers to cut the lead to one at 41-40 with 7:45 to play. Northwest did not score until McConkey hit a jumper with 4:51 to play that gave Northwest a 43-40 lead. Hartnett made a driving layup with 3:50 to up the lead to five at 45-40.
 
Fleming split a pair at the line to up the margin to six. After a Newman basket in the paint by Laura Bello, Hartnett drove the right baseline to take it back to six at 48-42 with 1:37 left. Hartnett sank a pair of free throws with 1:02 remaining to give Northwest a 50-42 lead. Hartnett would score the final eight points of the game as she added two free throws and a layup in the final :36 to clinch the 54-42 road victory.
 
Northwest will return to Maryville to prepare for a pair of home games this week against Lincoln and Central Missouri. Northwest and Lincoln will tangle Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena. Northwest and UCM will match up Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.
 
NOTES: Northwest moved to 3-0 all-time vs. Newman and 2-0 in Fugate Gymnasium … Peyton Kelderman made a three-pointer to keep her streak alive of making at least one three-pointer in 18 straight games … she has made at least two three-pointers in 12 of the 18 games this season … Northwest is 9-1 when McConkey scores in double figures … Hartnett led the way in scoring with 13 points, including eight in the fourth quarter … McConkey also reached double-figure scoring with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor … Northwest won the rebounding battle, 30-28 … Northwest is 21-2 when winning the rebounding battle under head coach Austin Meyer.