MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team fell to the No. 21-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons, 67-44. Molly Hartnett led the Bearcats with 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals.

Missouri Western opened the game up on a 10-0 run before Molly Hartnett found Kelsey Fields for a layup to give Northwest its first score of the game. Missouri Western's Jayme Jackson led the way for the Griffs with eight points as they led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter. 

In a scoring drought for nearly six minutes, Molly Hartnett sank Northwest's first triple of the game with 1:40 to go in the second quarter. Hartnett led the 'Cats with seven points, as Missouri Western led 32-14 at the half. 

Northwest cut the Missouri Western lead down to 14 with 4:19 to go in the third quarter with a Caely Kesten three-pointer. Northwest trailed 51-30 with one quarter to play. 

Back-to-back from Evelyn Vasquez wasn't enough for a Northwest comeback in the final minutes of the game as Missouri Western came out with a 67-44 victory. 

Northwest drops to 20-6 overall and 14-6 MIAA as Missouri Western improves to 22-4 overall, and 17-3 in conference play. 

The Bearcats are back in action on Thursday, Feb. 29 to take on the Central Oklahoma Bronchos in Edmond, Okla. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.