MARSHALL, Minn. - The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team came away with a 94-89 victory in tonight's season opener against Southwest Minnesota State.  

The Bearcats led 22-17 after the first quarter with Molly Hartnett leading all scorers with eight points. Northwest shot 50 percent from the floor after the first quarter.  

Northwest continued on a 17-4 run into the second quarter. At the half, Northwest led 42-33 while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor. Almost all the scoring was done in the paint in the first half with 36 out of the 42 points coming from the paint.  Molly Harnett had 12 points in the half with Kelsey Fields right behind her with eight. Northwest held Southwest Minnesota State to 32 percent from the floor, forcing five turnovers during the opening half.

Southwest Minnesota State opened on 7-0 run out of the break, but was quickly followed by a 10-0 run by the Bearcats.  Northwest's lead was cut down to five once SMSU hit five of their last six shots to end the quarter. Caely Kesten drove left and converted on a layup with two seconds to play to give Northwest a 59-54 advantage at the end of the third. 

SMSU took a four-point lead three minutes into the fourth quarter. Northwest answered back with a huge three from Lindsey Kelderman. On that play, a foul on an SMSU defender resulted in a Northwest possession. Molly Harnett converted an and-one opportunity  that gave the Bearcats the lead.  

Late free throws, despite the strong late Mustangs' surge, sealed the victory for the Bearcats. Northwest ended the night with 64 points in the paint and shot 46.8 percent from the field.  

Molly Harnett led the way with a new career-high 27 points for the Bearcats. Kelsey Fields also marked a new career-high 22 points and 16 rebounds.  

Northwest will be back in action tomorrow at 5 p.m., for the second game of the SMSU Classic against Minnesota-Crookston.