CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team (12-2 overall, 6-2 MIAA) took care of the Rogers State University Hillcats, 63-42.

Caely Kesten led the Bearcats with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Kesten's rebounds tie her career best. Molly Hartnett also poured on 12 points. As a team, Northwest used its immaculate defense to force 22 Hillcat turnovers. RSU shot 28.8 percent from the field (15-of-52) and 14.3 percent from the 3PT line (3-of-21). 

Lindsey Kelderman and Caely Kesten started the game with back-to-back triples to jump to a 6-2 lead. Molly Hartnett drilled a step-back jumper to force a Hillcat timeout with just under two minutes to play in the first quarter to give the Bearcats a 10-point lead. Northwest held a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Shots weren't falling as much as Rogers State sparked a 12-2 run in just over four minutes in the second quarter to tie the game up at 20. Northwest held a one-point lead at the break. 

Northwest came running out of the gates in the third quarter, outscoring Rogers State 20-5. The Bearcats ran off with a 13-3 run in the quarter to pull away 41-25 at the end of the third. 

The final quarter wasn't much different for the Bearcats as they kept their foot on the gas and finished out their Oklahoma road trip with two conference wins. 

Northwest will travel to Missouri Western on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.