KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team (23-7) suffered a 56-49 loss to Fort Hays State in the semifinal round of the 2024 MIAA Tournament.

Lindsey Kelderman led the Bearcats with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, also pulling down six boards. Molly Hartnett added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Kelsey Fields piled on eight points and 12 rebounds. 

Four different Bearcats scored in the first quarter, with Molly Hartnett leading the charge with six points. Fort Hays State had a one-point advantage at the end of the first. 

Northwest broke out of the second quarter on a 6-0 run to gain a 20-17 lead at the final media timeout of the first half. The Tigers ended the half on a 5-0 run to take a 24-22 lead at the half. Hartnett led the 'Cats with eight points as Fields pulled down nine first-half rebounds. 

Kelderman erased a four minute scoring drought for Northwest as she buried her first triple of the game. On the next possession, Kelderman hit a fade away jumper to pull the 'Cats within three with 3:14 to go in the third. Fort Hays State led 41-35 with one quarter to go. 

Kesten knocked in a three-pointer with 3:30 left to cut the deficit to five. Northwest cut it to a one possession game off a Kelderman floater with just over a minute to go. 

Fort Hays State hit its last four free-throws to secure a 56-49 win over Northwest. 

The Bearcats shot 36.4% (20-of-55) from the floor, and 29.4% (5-of-17) from three-point range. Northwest won the rebounding battle, 39-33. 

Katie Wagner of Fort Hays (24-6) led the Tigers with a game-high 17 points. 

Northwest will await its season hopes on Sunday, when the NCAA Selection show airs at  10:30 p.m. ET. Selection Sunday will be aired on NCAA.com.