ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team fell in a tough matchup against the No. 2-ranked Texas Woman's Pioneers, 58-41, on the final day of the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic at Civic Arena. 
 
Emree Zars was Northwest's top scorer with eight points and added six rebounds.
 
The Bearcats now sit at 1-1 overall on the season. 
 
No. 2 Texas Woman's scored on its second possession, while Northwest found its first point when Kelsey Fields knocked in a free throw. After the Pioneers converted on their next possession, the Bearcats made several defensive stops, setting up Lindsey Kelderman for an open look from the corner to tie the game at the three-minute mark. At the end of the first quarter, TWU led 9-6.
 
Shots weren't falling as they typically do, with Northwest making only its third field goal of the game when Aaliyah Riley used some fancy footwork to score in the second quarter. A timeout was called after TWU went on a 13-2 spurt with just under five minutes remaining.
 
TWU closed the first half with a 10-2 run, leaving Northwest trailing 29-12 at the break—the Bearcats' lowest-scoring first half since facing Quincy on Nov. 18, 2015. Northwest struggled to connect, shooting 5-of-27 from the field and just 1-of-10 from three-point range, while TWU made 10-of-23 shots. Free throws were also limited for Northwest, going 1-of-2, compared to TWU's 7-of-8 from the line.
 
The Bearcats opened the second half strong with a much-needed 10-2 run of their own within the first two minutes.
 
At the end of three complete, TWU led 43-27. 
 
Caely Kesten found an open look from the wing to trim Northwest's lead down to 15 midway through the final quarter. TWU continued to cause the Bearcats fits, as the Pioneers came away with a 58-41win in the final game of the D2CCA Tip-off Classic. 
 
The Bearcats made only 15 of their 54 field goal attempts (4-of-22 3PT), which allowed the Pioneers to lead for all but three minutes of the game. TWU's Ashley Ingram scored a game-high 23 points. 

True freshman Brooklyn Stanley recorded her first career points as a Bearcat with two tonight. 
 
Up Next: 
Northwest will return right where they were to Civic Arena next Friday, battling MSU Moorhead at 2:45 p.m., followed with another test against top-ranked Minnesota State Mankato at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday.