The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team got back in the win column with an overtime thriller against Washburn. Northwest defeated the Ichabods, 76-75.
 
The Bearcats are now 11-11 overall and 6-10 in MIAA action.
 
The Bearcats were down 12-4 through the first five minutes of action, but Northwest ended the quarter on an 8-4 run to cut the Ichabod lead to four.
 
Washburn led Northwest,16-12, after one quarter.
 
A pair of Jayna Green free throws gave the 'Cats their first lead of the game with 7:21 to play in the second quarter. Ella Moody then extended it to a three point lead next possession as Northwest led 19-16.
 
The Bearcats did not trail for the remainder of the half, despite Washburn tying things up at 25 apiece with 3:33 to go.
 
The Bearcats took a 29-26 lead with a bucket from Lindsey Kelderman with just over a minute to play. Washburn then drained a deep two-pointer as the second quarter buzzer sounded that brought the Northwest lead down to one heading into the halftime break. The 'Cats outscored Washburn 17-12 in the second quarter.
 
At the half, Northwest led Washburn, 29-28.
 
Emma Atwood and Kelsey Fields each had a team-high seven points and a team-high four rebounds in the first half.
 
Northwest shot 39.1% from the field in the half while the Ichabods shot 34.5% from the field. Both teams recorded 17 rebounds, but the Bearcats had a three-point advantage in the bench points category.
 
The third quarter was a battle to hold the lead. The quarter consisted of six lead changes and three ties between the teams.
 
With under a minute to go in the quarter, Washburn had a 44-43 lead. Jayna Green nailed a three from the top of the key and Evelyn Vazquez was fouled seconds later which put her at the free throw line where she sank both free throws. Washburn came down the floor and hit a three to end the quarter to make it a one-point game.
 
After three quarters, Northwest had a one-point lead over the Ichabods at 48-47.
 
Northwest was down five when Jayna Green drained another three and Molly Hartnett scored a layup to tie things back up at 57-57 with just under five minutes to go in the game.
 
After the Ichabods hit a three as the shot clock expired, Molly Hartnett knocked down a step back three of her own to tie the game once again, this time at 62-62, with 1:48 to play.
 
Washburn fought to get a three point lead with :18 seconds left in regulation. Northwest called a timeout to advance the ball and set up a play. The Bearcats missed the first three point attempt, but with 5.5 seconds to go, Molly Hartnett nailed another step back three-pointer to knot it up at 65-65. The Ichabods advanced the ball and connected on a layup with 1.4 seconds left to play. Northwest showed no quit as Emma Atwood inbounded the ball to Molly Hartnett who took a dribble and put a three-pointer up that missed, but Hartnett was fouled on the shot which put her at the free throw line for three shots. Northwest trailed 67-65 before Hartnett stepped up to the line. The MIAA's leading free throw percentage leader sank all three to give the 'Cats a 68-67 lead with :01 to play.
 
The Bearcats were called for a foul before the ball was inbounded which put Washburn at the line where they made one of two attempts to send the game into overtime.
 
In overtime, Washburn took a 73-68 lead before the 'Cats scored their first bucket. Emma Atwood hit two free throws to bring it back to a one possession game. Molly Hartnett then got a steal on the inbounds pass and made a layup as Northwest trailed 73-72 with 1:10 to go.
 
Washburn led 75-74 with 22.9 seconds to play in overtime. Molly Hartnett drove the right side of the lane and sank a layup to put Northwest on top for the first time in overtime, 76-75, with 6.6 seconds remaining. Jayna Green had a huge block with just over two seconds remaining to solidify the Northwest victory.
 
The Bearcats win the overtime thriller, 76-75.
 
Molly Hartnett led all scorers with 24 points, all of which were scored in the second half. Hartnett went 2-for-2 from three, 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, and tallied six boards, three steals, and two assists. Emma Atwood had 11 points with a team high eight rebounds and four assists. Atwood was 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Kelsey Fields added 10 points and eight rebounds. Jayna Green produced eight points and two blocks, one of which may have saved the game late in overtime. Green was 2-of-3 three from beyond the arc.
 
Both squads were 26-of-63 from the field at 41.3%. The Bearcats shot 90% from the free throw line knocking down 18-of-20 attempts. Northwest outrebounded the Ichabods by four and had seven steals to Washburn's four.  The 'Cats had 19 second chance points in the win.
 
Northwest hits the road next week to take on Rogers State Thursday night followed by Northeastern State Saturday afternoon.