FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team dropped its NSU Holiday Invitational finale against host school Nova Southeastern, 73-57, in the teams' inaugural meeting at Rick Case Arena. 
 
NSU now sits at 9-2 overall on the season, as Northwest dips to 7-5. 
 
Graduate guard Molly Hartnett put up a season-high 18 points and three steals, while knocking down 10-of-13 free throws. Caely Kesten and Kelsey Fields added nine points apiece. Northwest shot 38.1% from the field, as NSU finished at 48%. 
 
NSU jumped out to a 16-2 lead before Northwest's first field goal of the game came at the 2:29 mark in the first quarter when Peyton Kelderman sank a triple from the wing. The Sharks made 7-of-15 shots in the opening quarter to lead 21-10.
 
Molly Hartnett was the Bearcats' main source of scoring, converting on all three of her shots, including an and-one with just over a minute to play in the first half, trailing 36-19. NSU forced Northwest into 10 turnovers in the opening half, to its five. Foul trouble for the 'Cats was becoming an issue, as Aaliyah Riley and Sadie Maas each picked up four personals. Northwest shot 6-of-18, yet still finding its rhythm from the three-point line, 1-of-8. Hartnett piled up a game-high 10 points at the break with NSU leading 38-19.  
 
Northwest gained a little momentum after an 8-2 run to begin the second half. Hartnett scored eight points in the third, still trailing 53-40 with a quarter to play. 
 
Lindsey Kelderman dialed her second three-pointer of the afternoon to start the final quarter, pulling Northwest to ten. Fields topped off an and-one before the final media break to cut NSU's lead to single digits with 5:54 to go. 
 
Anastyn Pettlon connected on her first triple of the season when she sank one with 19 seconds to play. NSU went on a 7-0 spurt with two minutes to play, eventually sealing the game, 73-57.
 
Northwest went 20-of-26 from the charity stripe at 76.9%, marking the first time this season that the Bearcats have surpassed the 70% mark. 
 
Up Next:
Northwest heads back home, hosting No. 5 Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m., on Jan. 2 inside Bearcat Arena. The Bearcat men's team will follow at 7:30 p.m.