The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team fell to the Emporia State Hornets, 64-56.
 
Northwest drops to 5-6 overall and 0-5 in the MIAA.
 
Emporia built up an eight-point advantage as they took a 16-8 lead into the second quarter. The Bearcats knocked down just three shots in the quarter while ESU drained seven. Two of Northwest's buckets were three-pointers.
 
At the half, ESU led Northwest, 29-20. Northwest and Emporia State played a very even second quarter as each team connected on four total shots, with two of them being threes for both squads. Emporia outscored the Bearcats 13-12 in the quarter as the Hornets made three free throws and Northwest made two.
 
Ella Moody led the way for the Bearcats with seven points in the first half. Moody also added three rebounds, one steal, and one assist. The trio of Peyton Kelderman, Molly Hartnett, and Caely Kesten all tallied three points in the first 20 minutes of play. Kesten tallied three rebounds as well as Hartnett who also had two assists and a steal.
 
Emporia took a 45-34 lead into the fourth quarter. Northwest was 5-of-14 from the field in the third quarter while Emporia went 6-of-13 from the field.
 
Late in the fourth quarter Northwest cut the ESU lead to seven after Peyton Kelderman knocked down a pair of free throws. With 1:37 to go in the game, Emporia led 60-53. ESU went down the floor and connected on a three point play with a layup and a foul, but once again Peyton Kelderman brought the Bearcats back to within seven as she sank a deep three-pointer with just under a minute remaining.
 
Northwest was unable to put any more points on the board as Emporia State ended up with a 64-56 victory over the Bearcats.
 
Peyton Kelderman led Northwest in scoring with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting to go along with five rebounds. Molly Hartnett added eight points, six assists, four rebounds and one steal. Lindsey Kelderman and Ella Moody each tallied seven points and two assists. Jayna Green finished with five points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block.
 
Northwest will take a 13 day break before hosting Northeastern State Dec. 31 at 1:30 p.m.