Northwest Missouri State Athletics

The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team started off the season with a 95-86 victory over Southwest Minnesota State.
 
The Bearcats got off to a hot start as they led 11-2 after four minutes of action.
 
Northwest went 2 of 4 from beyond the arc in the first quarter and went 8 of 16 from the field. Jayna Green tallied 6 rebounds in the quarter.
 
The Bearcats took a 21-18 lead over the Mustangs going into the second quarter.
 
Northwest remained hot from the 3-point line going 3 for 5 in the second quarter and shooting 60% from the field.
 
The Bearcats outscored SMSU 26-17 in the second quarter and held the Mustangs to just one made three pointer.
 
Entering halftime, Northwest led 47-35. Molly Hartnett led the Bearcats with 10 points, followed by Jayna Green and Peyton Kelderman who each added nine. Kelderman went 3 for 6 from 3-point land in the half. Lauren Eiman went 3 for 5 from the field and knocked down a free throw to give her seven points at the break.
 
SMSU was a perfect 2 of 2 from 3-point land in the third quarter while Northwest went 1 of 5. The Bearcats shot a game-low 40% from the field but remained in the lead as both teams scored 23 points in the quarter.
 
The Bearcats took a 70-58 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, Northwest shot a game-best 62% from the field as they went 8 for 13. The Bearcats went perfect from the free throw line going 8 for 8 to secure the 95-86 win over SMSU.
 
Jayna Green and Molly Hartnett led the team in scoring with 20 points each. Green went 9 of 16 from the field and 2 of 3 from beyond the arc while adding eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Hartnett went 4 of 9 from the field and 12 for 12 from the free throw line. She also added a team high eight assists.
 
Ella Moody ended with 18 points, 16 of which came in the second half. Moody went 7 for 9 from the field and 4 for 4 from the charity stripe. She added five assists and four rebounds.
 
Peyton Kelderman was the fourth Bearcat in double digits as she ended with 14 points. Kelderman was 4 for 11 from deep and recorded five assists on the night.
 
Northwest did not trail at any point in the game.
 
Northwest had not recorded a 90 point game since November 13, 2019, when they defeated Kansas Christian, 90-22.
 
The Bearcats are back in action in Kearney, Nebraska tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. as they take on Minnesota Crookston.
 
NOTES: Northwest went 33-64 from the field … 7-19 from the 3-point line … 22-26 from the free throw line … totaled 50 points in the paint … 17 points off turnovers … 13 second chance points … 28 points from the bench.