MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team (3-0) came away with the 72-56 victory over the William Jewell Cardinals (1-3). 

Northwest defeated the Cardinals by relying on its defense and outside shooting. The Cardinals shot 5-of-21 (23.8%) from beyond the arc, while Northwest shot 9-of-19 (47.4 percent). Evelyn Vasquez had three steals, which caused William Jewell's offensive to be disjointed the entire time. Northwest forced 13 turnovers in total as a team.

In the first quarter, William Jewell opened up on a 9-6 run, but was vanished quickly after Northwest went on a 7-0 run to regain the 13-9 lead. A Peyton Kelderman three seemed to spark the Bearcat offense for the rest of the way. In a back-and-forth battle in the first half, Northwest secured the 17-14 rebounding margin and led 29-23 at the break. 

As the U5 media timeout approached, the Bearcats led 10-2 and were still pouring in shots in the second half. Laini Joseph and Emma Atwood hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Bearcats a decisive 45-35 lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Bearcats were ahead 50–37. In the fourth quarter, Northwest outscored the Cardinals by as many as 17 points and maintained possession to seal the game. 

Peyton Kelderman led the way for the Bearcats with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, 3-of-5 from three-point range. Three different Bearcats hit double figures in tonight's game. 

Peyton Kelderman - 14 points
Lindsey Kelderman - 10 points
Kelsey Fields - 10 points

Caely Kesten secured a new career-high seven rebounds against the Cardinals. Kesten's rebounds was also a team-high tonight. 

Northwest has outscored opponents 256-221 so far this season. 

Northwest will be back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. for a match up with Rockhurst.