MARYVILLE, Mo – The No. 5 Pittsburg State Gorillas (23-2, 15-0 MIAA) erased an 18-point second-half deficit and used a layup in the final eight seconds to secure a 61-59 victory over the Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team (12-13, 5-10 MIAA) in Bearcat Arena. 
 
Northwest was outscored 33-15 in the second half, managing just six points in the fourth quarter as Pittsburg State took its first and only lead in the closing moments.  
 
Graduate guard Caely Kesten paced the Bearcats with a game-high 24 points, the lone Northwest player in double figures. Freshman forward Sadie Maas added nine points and recorded a career-best four blocks in the hard-fought battle.
 
As a team, Northwest shot 44.6% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. 
 
Kesten scored six quick points in the opening minutes of the contest to give Northwest a 10-5 lead at the media timeout. Lindsey Kelderman sunk back-to-back triples to force a Gorilla timeout to jump out to an 18-7 lead with 2:13 to play in the first quarter. Both Kelderman and Kesten tallied six first-quarter points to give the 'Cats a 24-12 advantage after one. 
 
Hot start for the Bearcats in the opening quarters, as Kesten picked up eleven points after a converted and-one with 7:42 to play in the second. In the first 14 minutes of action, Northwest was shooting a blistering 60% from the field, holding a ten-point advantage. Freshman Sadie Maas swatted away two crucial shots to keep the Gorillas empty-handed. Coming off the bench, Peyton Kelderman nailed a deep three as the shot clock wound down at the 2:43 mark to make it 39-24. After a PSU missed shot on one end, Hartnett found Kesten down the floor, as she laid it in at the first-half buzzer to lead 44-28 at the half.
 
Northwest shot an efficient 58.1% (18-of-31) from the floor and 71.4% (5-of-7) from long-range in the half while holding PSU to 37.9% shooting. Kesten led the charge with 16 points, as Hartnett was all over the floor, tallying six points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
 
The Bearcats' first four points belonged to Kesten, as Maas converted on an and-one to bring their lead to 51-33 with 5:55 to go in the third. A quick 5-0 run by PSU brought the score to 51-38 with 2:22 to play. A three-pointer by PSU's MayceeJames cut Northwest's lead to ten after three quarters, 53-43. 

Northwest recorded one bucket in over eight minutes of game time before Kesten laid one in with 7:41 to go in the fourth to lead 55-47. The Gorillas cut its deficit to three after their sixth triple of the game. At the final media timeout, Northwest held a slim 57-54 lead. Maas picked up her fourth block of the afternoon with 3:35 to play, a new career high. 
 
PSU tied the game up at 59 with:46 left from a pair of free throws by Karenna Gerber, as Northwest had possession coming out of the timeout. The Gorillas took a two-point advantage with just under eight ticks to play, 61-59. P. Kelderman had a look in the corner at the buzzer but was unable to convert as PSU stayed perfect in MIAA play with a 61-59 comeback win over Northwest. 
 
Despite the setback, Northwest held PSU to 61 points – its lowest of the season. The Gorillas have scored 70 or more points in 12 of their last 13 games. 
 
Northwest took its second loss of the season when out-rebounding opposing teams (35-33). The Bearcats registered 40 points in the paint, compared to PSU's 28. The 15-point second half by the Bearcats is the second-lowest total this season, only the 12-point first half against Texas Woman's (Nov. 3) was less.