EMPORIA, Kan. -- The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team (17-5 overall, 11-5 MIAA) knocked in a new season-high 15 made three-point shots to secure an 86-52 win against Emporia State. Four Bearcats score in double-figures. Molly Hartnett produced her 17th 20+ point game with her 21-point effort. Kelsey Fields also secured her 26th career double-figure rebounding game with 10 against the Hornets. 

Northwest jumped out to a quick 4-0 to open the game. Emporia State quickly vanished that lead when the U5 media timeout hit. Back and forth the two teams went, Northwest put together an 11-2 scoring run and led 17-12 with two minutes left in the first quarter. At the end of the first, Northwest led 20-18. Peyton Kelderman knocked in two shots from three-point range to lead the Bearcats with six first-quarter points. 

A season-high 31-point second quarter gave Northwest a 51-30 halftime lead. Northwest's 51-point first half is the most scored by a Bearcat team since putting up 53 against SW Minnesota State on Nov. 16, 2012 (won 93-46). Molly Hartnett caught fire with 16 first-half points, with Caely Kesten piling up 11. As a team, Northwest shot 54.5 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc. 

Peyton Kelderman dialed up her third three-pointer to stop a Hornet run to give the Bearcats a 23-point lead. Hartnett knocked in a corner three with 22 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Bearcats a 66-45 lead. 

Northwest shoots 48.4 percent from the field and 41.7 from three-point range and leads by as many as 34 points. The Bearcats won the rebounding battle, 47-25. 

The Bearcats are back in action this Saturday against the Washburn Ichabods. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. in Topeka, Kan.