EDMOND, Okla. -- The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team improved to 21-6 overall and 15-6 in the MIAA, with a 77-72 triumph against the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

Molly Hartnett secured her fourth double-double of her career with 16 points and 11 assists. Jayna Green also secured her fourth career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Caely Kesten notched her fourth  20-point game of the season, and her career, with 23 points against Central Oklahoma. 

Central Oklahoma drops to 7-20 overall, 6-15 in conference play. The Bronchos were led by Caley Young's 19 points. 

Caely Kesten got the Bearcat offense going with back-to-back three-point shots to secure an early 6-2 lead. Central Oklahoma battled back with a quick 7-0 run to take the lead midway through the first quarter. A three by Central Oklahoma's Alexis Martin gave the Bronchos a three-point advantage at the end of one. 

Kelsey Fields and Kesten converted on back-to-back buckets to give the 'Cats the lead with nine minutes to go in the half. The Bronchos reached their largest lead of the first half with a pair of free-throws by Aliyah Llanusa, 27-22. Kesten topped off her 11-point half with another three, to give Northwest a 28-27 with about four minutes to play. Jayna Green was the other Bearcat in double-figures in the first half, also with 11. Green converted on a lay up at the buzzer to give the 'Cats a 35-33 lead at the break. At the time, Molly Hartnett tied her career-high in assists with eight. 

Out of the break, the two teams went back-and-forth with Central Oklahoma holding a 40-39 at the U5 media timeout. Hartnett secured her tenth assist of the game with a dish to Fields at the buzzer to give the Bearcats a 53-48 lead with one quarter to play. 

Northwest took its largest lead of the game of 13 off a pair of free-throws by Kesten with 3:47 to go in the fourth. Central Oklahoma made it a five-point game with 30 seconds to go, but Northwest's free-throws down the stretch sealed the 77-72 victory. 

Northwest shot 43.6 percent from the field, while going 23-of-26 from the free throw line (88.5 percent). 

The last time two Bearcats put up double-doubles in a game was back on Feb. 2, 2017, with Tanya Meyer (34 points/11 rebounds) and Maria Dentlinger (10 points/13 rebounds) against Lincoln. 

Kesten is only the eighth Bearcat to make 10-of-10 or better at the free throw line in a game.

Head Coach Austin Meyer is now 11-1 in the state of Oklahoma after today's win. 

Northwest will next travel to Joplin, Mo. to take on the Missouri Southern State Lions inside the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.