WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team produced the program's first win over ranked foe in six years with a 76-68 triumph over the No. 16-ranked Central Missouri Jennies at the Multipurpose Building.

Junior Molly Hartnett piled up a game-high 21 points to help head coach Austin Meyer secure his first win over a ranked foe in his tenure in Maryville. it also marked Meyer's first victory over the Jennies in 10 tries.

Junior Jayna Green finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. 

Northwest used a three-pointer from Caely Kesten and traditional three-point play from  Green to put together an early 6-0 run to give the Bearcats a 6-2 lead. Northwest was held scoreless for more than three minutes heading into the media timeout but still head a 6-5 advantage. Northwest was able to hold on for a 17-15 scoring edge after one quarter.

It was a slow-starting second quarter for both teams before sophomore Lindsey Kelderman nailed a triple to put the Bearcats up three with 5:38 to play. Central Missouri went on a 9-2 run before sophomore Evelyn Vasquez had a put-back layup on her miss to trail Central Missouri 28-26 at halftime. 

Green got the action started in the third quarter with a layup to tie the game at 28-28. Lindsey Kelderman knocked in her second triple of the game, cutting the Bearcat deficit to four with 3:30 to go in the third quarter. With 2:27 to play, Kelsey Fields grabbed an offensive board and converted a putback to pull Northwest to within two. A couple of minutes later,  Hartnett found Laini Joseph on the right wing for a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bearcats a one-point advantage entering the fourth.

Northwest went on a 9-2 in two minutes to take a 63-57 lead after Molly Hartnett knocked in a step-back three. With 3:23 left in the game, Jayna Green swatted away Central Missouri's Brooke Littrell trying to get to the basket. Green's block led to a five-second call as Central Missouri was unable to get the ball in bounded. 

Northwest's win over No. 16 Central Missouri is the first victory against a ranked opponent since Jan. 21, 2017 against No. 23 Fort Hays State, 92-80.

Northwest improves to 14-4 overall, 8-4 in the MIAA, as Central Missouri falls to 14-4 overall, 8-4 in conference play. 

The Bearcats head to Jefferson City, Mo., to take on the Lincoln Blue Tigers this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Jason Gymnasium.