The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team took its first lead of the game with 4:57 left in the game and finished with a 53-50 victory over the Rogers State Hillcats.
 
Northwest improves to 7-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
 
Rogers State led 11-6 after the first quarter as the Bearcats connected on just one field goal.
 
In the second quarter, Northwest trailed by as much as 10 points.
 
With 3:36 to play in the half, Northwest trailed Rogers State 21-11. The Bearcats would then go on a 7-0 run to close the half. Lindsey Kelderman drained a deep three-pointer with a minute and a half left in the second quarter to bring Northwest within five points. The next possession, Kelsey Fields grabbed an offensive rebound that would lead to a layup for Molly Hartnett. The Bearcats entered the half down by three as RSU led 21-18.
 
Lindsey Kelderman and Peyton Kelderman led Northwest in scoring at the break with five points each. RSU averaged 19.2 turnovers per game coming into the matchup, and after two quarters Northwest had already forced the Hillcats into 13 turnovers.
 
After trailing by as much as eight in the third quarter, Peyton Kelderman knocked down a deep three-pointer to bring Northwest to within three points once again as RSU remained in the lead, 38-35. At the end of the third, the Hillcats led 40-35.
 
At the 7:55 mark of the fourth quarter, Peyton Kelderman drained her third three-pointer of the night to bring Northwest to within one point. At the final media timeout, Rogers State led 44-43.
 
With 4:57 left in the game, Molly Hartnett drove into the lane and finished a hook shot to give Northwest its first lead of the game at 45-44. Rogers State would take the lead right back, but the Bearcats then would go on a 5-0 scoring run to force a Hillcat timeout with 2:24 remaining in the game. Northwest led 51-46.
 
Northwest outscored Rogers State 18-10 in the fourth quarter as they would go on to beat the Hillcats 53-50.

Peyton Kelderman led Northwest in scoring with 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep. Kelsey Fields and Molly Hartnett each added eight points. Fields had a team-best 12 rebounds and Hartnett had a team-best six assists. 
 
Northwest forced 18 turnovers and recorded nine steals. The Bearcats outrebounded RSU by five and held the Hillcats to just two offensive rebounds. Northwest had 16 bench points in the win.

The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday, January 7, to take on Missouri Western. Tip is set for 1:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.