ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team dropped its contest to Missouri Western, 61-47. Caely Kesten led all scorers with a new career-high 23 points. 

Missouri Western came out with a quick 7-0 run to start the game before Northwest took a timeout. Northwest battled back on a little run of their own to cut the Griffon lead down to three. Northwest shoots 3-of-17 from the floor at the end of the first quarter as Missouri Western led, 20-10.

Shots started to fall for the Bearcats in the second quarter, but the Griffons shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half made it difficult for a comeback. Caely Kesten knocked in a three-pointer to cut Northwest's deficit to seven entering halftime. Missouri led by as many as 13 in the first half. 

At the break, Northwest trailed 33-26. 

Missouri Western managed to control the game in the second half as they came out with the 61-47 win. The Griffons controlled the paint with 36 points and managed to convert 29 points off turnovers. 

Northwest shot 16-of-58 from the field, and 4-of-20 from beyond the arc. 

Northwest falls to 12-3 overall and 6-3 in MIAA as the Griffons improve to 11-4 overall and 6-3 in conference play. 

Northwest returns back home on Thursday, Jan. 18 against Central Oklahoma in a "White-out" game. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.