KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State (4-0) defeated Rockhurst (0-1) 80-57 today in the 28.5 Hoops Invitational at Municipal Auditorium. 

Northwest used its defense to control the game, posting its best defensive performance of the season, holding Rockhurst to 15-of-57 (26.3 percent) shooting. This is an opposing team's lowest field goal percentage yet this season. 

Four different Bearcats found double-digit scoring.

Lindsey Kelderman - 15 points
Caely Kesten - 13 points
Molly Harnett - 10 points
Emma Atwood - 10 points

Lindsey Kelderman scored a game-high 15 points, shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Kelderman also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists. Molly Hartnett racked up 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, five steals, and one block. 

Northwest forced 19 turnovers in the first half, leading 35-18 at the break. Rockhurst shot only 17.4 percent from the field. Northwest led for about 17 minutes in the first half, with a 19-point lead in the second quarter. 

The Bearcat's defense proved to be unstoppable in the second half. Rockhurst turned the ball over 25 times total, setting a new season high for the Bearcats. Northwest also had a 49-to-39 rebounding advantage, with 17 of those coming on the offensive end. Northwest attempted 34 free throws, making 28 of them (82.4 percent). 

Today's win marks the first 4-0 start for the Bearcats since the 2016-17 season.