MARYVILLE, Mo. – Graduate guard Molly Hartnett delivered a game-high 24 points to propel the Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team to a 62-54 win over Missouri Southern on Pink Out Night at Bearcat Arena.  
 
The Bearcats improved to 12-12 overall and 5-9 in MIAA play, while the Lions dropped to 16-10 (8-6 MIAA).  
 
Hartnett filled the stat sheet with nine rebounds and five assists to go along with her 24-point performance. Graduate guard Caely Kesten contributed 13 points, five boards, and four assists, while senior forward Kelsey Fields added 11 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.  
 
Northwest shot 41.7% from the field while holding Missouri Southern to just 37%. The Bearcats dominated the glass with a 37-29 rebounding edge and improved to 10-1 this season when winning the rebounding battle.
 
Junior Emree Zars knocked down her first two attempts from long-range on back-to-back possessions to start the game, as Northwest converted on six of its first seven shots leading up to the opening media timeout, up 16-10 with 4:08 to play. The Bearcats shot 61.5% (6-of-13) from the floor, led by Hartnett's eight points, leading 19-16 after one. 
 
Missouri Southern stayed within reach midway through the second quarter, but Northwest still held a three-point advantage with five minutes to spare in the half. Kesten found Kelsey Fields on a dime to put the Bearcats lead to four again with 3:04 to play. MSSU would knot the game up at 29 with a pair of quick buckets. Kesten drilled a deep triple shortly after – her first of the game. At the half, Northwest led 32-31. Both teams shot 48% (12-of-25) in the first half, as the Lions had the upper edge in the turnover battle, 7-to-6. Hartnett still led Northwest in scoring with nine points, as Kesten put up seven. 
 
MSSU took its first lead since the opening:37 with a three-pointer by Kennady Roach to start up the second half. Brooklyn Stanley scored her first points of the game on a running floater to give the 'Cats a 38-36 lead with just over four minutes to play in the third. The Lions sparked a 7-0 scoring run with 1:34 to go to lead 45-40. Hartnett knocked in four straight free throws to cut the Lions' lead down to one at the third-quarter buzzer. 
 
Fields gave Northwest the lead right back, after securing an offensive board and put back with 7:43 to play. The Hartnett-to-Fields connection was stellar down the stretch, opening up Kesten drilling her second three of the night in a crucial spot, putting Northwest on top 59-54 with 2:09 left in the game. 
 
Hartnett was awarded two free throws after an intentional foul with:40 to play, drilling both to give the 'Cats a 60-54 cushion. Northwest ended the game on a 13-3 run, sealing a 62-54 victory over Missouri Southern, for the third-straight time in the all-time series. 

UP NEXT
The Bearcats are set to take on the No. 5-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas on Saturday, Feb. 15. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m., inside Bearcat Arena.